EFFECTS OF CYATHUS STERCOREUS - TREATED BALANITE AEGYTIACA SEED MEAL ON HAEMATOLOGICAL INDICES AND SERUM BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF SAHELIAN BUCKS

Abstract

The study investigated the effect Cyathus stercoreus treated, biodegradable Balanite aegytiaca seed meal (TBSM) and groundnut cake (GNC) on haematology and serum biochemistry parameters of Sahelian bucks (SBs). Five dietary treatments were formulated as follows: control diet (T1) 0:100, 25:75 (T2), 50:50 (T3), and 75:25 (T4) and 100:0% TBMS:GNC. A 2.5 g of Cyathus stercoreus was
added to 1 kg of ground Balanite aegyptiaca seed after been dissolved in 1 L of water. Thirty (30) healthy SBs weighing 10.93 ± 0.51 kg of body weight (BW) and aged 7 to 8 months were assigned to five treatments. This was replicated six times in a completely randomized design (CRD). The experiment lasted for 120 days, the animals were given the same amount of feed two times a day,
at 7:00 and 12:00. Water was offered Adlibithum. The animals' initial weights were determined prior to the commencement of the experiment. At the end of the experimental period, blood samples were collected for haematology and serum biochemistry analysis. Parameters determined were proximate compositions of the experimental dies, haematology and serum biochemical indices.
Haematological parameters determined were packed cell volume (PCV), Haemoglobin (Hgb), Red blood cell counts (RBC) and White blood cell counts (WBC). Serum biochemical parameters were Blood protein, Albumen, Globulin, Glucose Blood urea nitrogen, ALT and AST. Data obtained were subjected to Analysis of Variance. Results showed that PCV, HGB, RBC, WBC, MCHC, MCH and MCV
ranged from 17.00 –24.90 %, 6.87 – 8.61 g/dl, 2.47 – 2.27, 10.35 x106mm-1 – 19.07 x106mm-1, 32.80 – 41.50 g/dl, 38.00- 48.20g and 101.45 – 118.85 fL, respectively. The blood indices (MCV, MCH and MCHC), were within the normal ranges indicating that the goats were not anaemic. Thus, the haematological and serum metabolites were within the established ranges for healthy goats suggesting that tannin concentration of Cyathus stercoreus treated, biodegradable Balanite aegytiaca seed meal were well tolerated by the goats. It was therefore, concluded that the feeding
of the Cyathus stercoreus treated, biodegradable Balanite aegytiaca seed meal did not cause any major health disorders. The experimental diets are therefore recommended for fattening of goats.