Effect of treatment with copper oxide Nanoparticles and garlic oil on some productive and hematological traits in Awassi lambs

Abstract

This study was conducted at the animal farm of the Department of Animal Production, College of Agriculture, Tikrit University, from September 7, 2025, to December 7, 2025. The aim was to investigate the effect of adding copper oxide Nanoparticles and garlic oil on some productive and hematological traits in Awassi lambs. Twenty Awassi lambs, aged 3-4 months with an average weight of 26.10 ± 0.16 kg, were used. They were housed in a semi-open pen with fixed feeders and waterers. The animals were randomly divided into four treatments. The first treatment was treated with distilled water, the second treatment with copper oxide Nanoparticles at a concentration of 2 ml/animal/day (at a concentration of 20 mg), the third treatment with garlic oil at a concentration of 1 ml/animal/day, and the fourth treatment with a mixture of copper oxide Nanoparticles at a concentration of 2 ml/animal/day and garlic oil at a concentration of 1 ml/animal/day.

The results of this study indicated a significant improvement (P ≤ 0.05) in the final weight, daily weight gain, and total weight gain of the lambs treated in the fourth treatment compared to the first and second treatments. The animals in the fourth treatment also recorded a significant increase in the number of red blood cells, blood hemoglobin concentration, and packed red blood cell volume compared to the control group after 90 days of treatment. No significant differences were found in the values ​​of red blood cell indices (MCV, MCH, and MCHC) between the four groups. The results also showed a significant decrease (P ≤ 0.05) in the total white blood cell count and neutrophil count in the blood of the animals in the fourth, third, and second treatments compared to the control group. The percentage of lymphocytes increased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) in the blood of the treated animals compared to the control group after 45 and 90 days of treatment. As for the percentage of Eosinophil’s, basophils, and monocytes, the treatment with copper oxide Nanoparticles and garlic oil had no significant effect on their percentage.