Zinc Deficiency (Hypozincemia) in a Lamb: Clinical Field Case

Alhaji Nma Bida, Musa Ibrahim Garba

Abstract
The purpose of this report was to present the clinical and pathological features of hypozincemia observed in a clinical field case and the effects of the administered treatment in the affected lamb. Zinc deficiency was diagnosed in a lamb flock of a four sheep; sucking lamb, dam, a ram and ewe in Minna, Nigeria. Skin lesions, anorexia, alopecia, depression, wool eating, flexed knees and a markedly stiff gait were observed in the lamb. The respiratory and heart rates were significantly higher (p<0.05) in zinc deficient lamb than in the apparently healthy ewes and ram in the flock. Pathology of skin of the zinc deficient lamb revealed mainly parakeratosis accompanied by hyperkeratosis in the lesions. The animals responded rapidly to oral administration of zinc sulphate. This investigation revealed that zinc deficiency in lambs and probably other young sheep could result in wool eating and considerable economic losses because of damage to the quality of skin. We recommend that Zn, Fe and Cu be added to the diets of lambs to avoid wool eating. There is no documented report available on wool eating in sheep in this part of Nigeria and therefore suggest that research on biochemical and hematological analyses be conducted on flock of local sheep fed mainly leguminous diets to assess normal values and as well carry out surveillance of the syndrome for control.

Key words: Zinc deficiency, lamb, field case, wool eating, Nigeria