Haematological and serum biochemical Dwarf goats fed selected forages

Abstract

Rapid decline in the quantity and quality of forages during the dry season leads to poor animal performance. The nutritive qualities of five selected forages (Spondias mombin, Ageratum conyzoides, Calopogonium mucunoides, Terminalia catappa and Dialium guineense) were investigated. Twenty four West African Dwarf (WAD) goats were subjected to six dietary treatments with four animals per treatment in a completely randomized design. The experiment lasted for 84 days. All the forages were used to supplement Pennisetum purpureum. Blood parameters were determined. Highest values of 30.56 %, 11.76 g/dL and 12.91 x 1012/L were obtained in packed cell volume, haemoglobin and red blood cell respectively in goats fed P. purpureum + C. mucunoides. Highest value of glucose (70.33 g/dL) was recorded in goats fed P. purpureum + S. mombin. The study concluded that the selected plants can be used to feed ruminants with no deleterious effects on goats.