Abstract

Background:
Curcumin, a bioactive compound, widely used in animals like ruminants in raw form, while nanoform powder solution formulation has not been used in lambs, despite its properties recently receiving special attention from researchers.

Aim:
This study explains the effects of nanocurcumin (NC) compared to its natural form and its potential to improve lamb health, depending on serum biochemistry, histomorphometry, and histochemistry results, on weight gain, meat composition, and quality.

Methods:
In this study conducted at the field of College of Agriculture and forestry, University of Mosul, using 15 Awassi lambs with an average body weight of (28.80 + 1.40) kg and aged 3.5–4 months, lambs were randomly gathered and arranged in three groups: the first group is G1 control, fed standard rations, G2 was fed the standard ration and orally drained with 80 mg/lamb/day of raw curcumin; while the third group was fed standard ration with drainage NC at 40 mg/lamb/day

Results:
The results revealed a significant increase (p ≤ 0.05) in final body weight G1 and G2 (47.95 and 47.80 kg, respectively) compared with G1 (47.20 kg). Weight gain was significantly higher in lambs supplemented with NC (19.30 kg) compared to the other groups (18.40–18.05 kg). Rib eye area improved significantly (p ≤ 0.05) in carcasses of lambs fed turmeric (14.50–15.20 cm2) compared with the G1 group (13.70 cm2). On the other side, subcutaneous fat thickness decreased in the curcumin-supplemented groups (1.24–1.18 cm2) compared to G1 (1.52 cm2). A similar trend showed for total fat percentage reaching (22.43%–23.91%) compared with (26.71%) in G1. Regarding histomorphological characteristics, G3 showed clear improvements in villus height, width, and depth (499.18, 201.28, and 322.23 mm), and G1 (467.45, 169.52, and 301.74 mm), along with improvements in the thickness of layers of the intestine.

Conclusion:
Evident improvements were observed in the histological characteristics of the intestine, including increased villus height and width, deeper crypts, and thicker intestinal wall layers, indicating enhanced nutrient absorption efficiency and, consequently, improved productive performance.

Key words: Awassi lambs; Blood; Curcumin; Nanotechnology; Productive performance.