EFFECT OF FEEDING MOLASSES TREATED MAIZE COBS WITH SUPPLEMENTATION ON HAEMATO-BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF GROWING YANKASA RAMS

Abstract

The study was conducted at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching and Research Farm, Bauchi, for a period of ten (10) weeks between October and December 2016, to evaluate the haemato-biochemical parameters of growing Yankasa sheep fed molasses treated maize cobs based diets with supplements. Sixteen (16) Yankasa rams with an average weight of 13.44 kg and aged 9 to 12 months old were randomly allotted to four (4) dietary treatments in a Completely Randomized Design. All the animals were fed a basal diet of molasses treated crushed maize cobs ad-libitum. In addition, animals received 300 g of the following supplements: maize bran alone (MB),MB + dried poultry litter, MB + cotton seed cake and MB + groundnut cake for treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4 (50:50) respectively. The results indicated that significant (p<0.05) difference were observed in haemato-biochemical indices.All the values for haemato-biochemical parameters, after feeding such as haemoglobin (7.93-11.69 g/dl), Packed Cell Volume (28.87-52.43 %), blood glucose (2.43-3.27 g/l), and blood protein (5.50-6.20 g/l) fell within the normal values for sheep. It may be concluded from this study that molasses treated and crushed maize cobs with protein supplements enhanced maize cobs utilization by Yankasa sheep. However, mixed  supplements especially MB + CSC was more efficient in enhancing the utilization of the maize cobs in terms of higher DMI, daily weight gains and better feed conversion ratio. This treatment is therefore recommended for growing Yankasa sheep.