Physiological response of WAD sheep fed different combinations of Guinea grass and ensiled Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) O. Kuntze based diets: Intake, haematology and serum biochemical indices

Haematological and serum biochemical parameters are indicators of physiological, nutritional and pathological status of animals. Investigation of these parameters provide information for diagnostic purposes. The study was conducted to determine the influence of feeding graded levels of yam peel meal (YPM) as a replacement for maize on haematology; blood chemistry was evaluated in rabbits. Thirty- six (New Zealand white X Chinchilla) were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design with nine rabbits per treatment. The rabbits were fed diets containing 0, 12.5, 25 and 37.5% of Yam peel meal (YPM) as a replacement for maize, designated as T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively. The experimental diets and clean drinking water were supplied ad libitum throughout the experimental period of nine weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, three rabbits per treatment were randomly selected for hematological and serum biochemical analysis. All the haematological and serum biochemical indices except AST were affected (P<0.05) by dietary inclusion of YPM. Although most of the parameters investigated were affected by rabbits fed test ingredient, the values fell within the normal literature reference values for rabbits. It can therefore be concluded that up to 37.5% inclusion level of YPM can be fed to growing rabbits without deleterious effects on health status.

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Nutritive value of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) seeds soaked in wood ash extract as protein feedstuff for broiler chicken production

Nigerian Journal of Animal Production ◽

10.51791/njap.v44i2.1123 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 44 (2) ◽

pp. 101-111

Author(s):

S. O. Omoikhoje ◽

J. E. Imade ◽

M. O. Odiase

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Protein Efficiency Ratio ◽

Control Diet ◽

Live Weight ◽

Pigeon Pea ◽

Wood Ash ◽

Efficiency Ratio ◽

Serum Biochemical ◽

Biochemical Indices

An eight weeks feeding trial was conducted to assess the effect of feeding graded level of soaked pigeon pea meal (SPPM) in wood ash extract or solution on the growth performance, haematological and serum biochemical indices of broiler chickens. A total of 144 day-old chicks (Anak 2000) were randomly allotted to four treatment diets (1, 2, 3 and 4) in a completely randomized design. Each treatment group was replicated three times with twelve birds per replicate, thus, having thirty-six chicks per treatment group. Diet 1 contained 0% SPPM in wood ash extract for 72hours as the control diet, while diets 2, 3 and 4 were formulated to contain 25, 50 and 75% inclusions of SPPM in place of soybean meal. Results showed that the average live weight, daily weight gain and feed intake as well as protein efficiency ratio were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the dietary treatments at the finisher phase. Broiler chickens fed 25% SPPM based diet had a higher (P<0.05) and comparable value of live weight, weight gain and protein efficiency ratio to that recorded in the control diet at the finisher phase. The haematological and serum biochemical indices revealed that albumin and total cholesterol were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the treatment diets. The albumin value (2.2g/dl) was highest in birds fed 50% SPPM, whereas, the cholesterol value decreased (P<0.05) with increasing levels of inclusion of SPPM from 0 to 75%. It therefore implies that SPPM can be partially included in broiler diets up to 25% level with optimum growth performance and without any detrimental effect on the blood profile of broiler chickens.

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Assessment of the nutritive value of toasted castor seed cake-based diets as a reflect on blood profile of weanling wistar albino rats

Nigerian Journal of Animal Production ◽

10.51791/njap.v44i3.603 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 44 (3) ◽

Author(s):

A. F Agboola

Keyword(s):

Blood Cell ◽

Castor Seed ◽

Albino Rats ◽

Blood Profile ◽

Seed Cake ◽

Soyabean Meal ◽

Serum Biochemical ◽

Wistar Albino Rats ◽

Biochemical Indices ◽

Dietary Treatments

Since the cost of feed is increasing due to the keen competition between humans and animals, there is a need to critically seek for a matching alternative. Castor seed cake, a residue after the extraction of oil from nutrients-rich castor seed constitutes a waste which can be converted into livestock feed. Thus, the study was carried out to investigate the effect of graded levels of castor seed cake diets on haematological and serum biochemical indices of weanling albino rats in an experiment that lasted 21 days. Thirty weanling Wistar albino rats were weighed individually and randomly assigned to 5 dietary treatments with 3 replicates of two rats in a completely randomized design. Diet 1 was a nitrogen-free diet (NFD), while diets 2, 3, 4, and 5 had 0% (without castor seed cake inclusion), 2, 4 and 6% castor seed cake replacing soyabean meal respectively. At day 21, blood samples were obtained from two rats per replicate for haematological and serum analysis. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) observed in all the parameters (packed cell volume, haemaglobin, red blood cell, white blood cell, lymphocyte, neutrophil, monocyte, eosinophil and platelet) measured. Similarly, diet had no effect on the serum biochemical indices (creatinine, urea, total protein and globulin) measured. Significant difference (P<0.05) was however observed in albumin (2.62 – 3.18g/dL) of rats on the different experimental diets. The albumin concentrations of weanling albino rats on dietary treatments were similar to those on the control diet but significantly (P<0.05) higher (3.09 – 3.18g/dL) than those on the nitrogen free diet. It can be concluded that castor seed cake can replace soyabean meal up to 6% inclusion level without eliciting detrimental effect on blood profile of weanling wistar albino rats.

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