Abstract: The study was conducted to determine the effects of graded levels of Gmelina arborea bark supplementation with Afzelia Africana leaves on nutrient digestibility and haematological indices of bucks. Twenty five bucks with body weight of 14.75-17.00 kg, were used for the study. The bucks were weighed and divided into five groups. Each group of five bucks were randomly assigned to one of the five treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD). Fresh Afzelia africana leaves was fed as basal diet. The basal diet was fed ad libitum, while Gmelina arborea bark was fed as supplement at the levels of 0, 100, 150,200 and 250 g/head/day for T1 (control), T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively. Clean drinking water and mineral salt lick were provided ad libitum throughout the experimental period. There were significant (P>0.05) differences between the treatments groups in all the parameters measured excepts dry matter (DM), ether extract (EE) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) which did not differ significantly (P<0.05) between the treatments groups. Bucks on T5 recorded the highest Cp digestibility, however it did not differ from other treatments groups significantly (P<0.05). Crude fibre (CF) digestibility was higher in T4 and T5 fed 200 and 250g inclusion of Gmelina arborea bark than other treatments. The neutral detergent fibre (NDF) digestibility was also higher in T4 and T5 diets but did not differ (p<0.05) significantly from that of T2 and T3 while T1 (control) recorded the highest ash digestibility. Haematological parameters indicated that there were significant (P>0.05) differences between the treatments for all the parameters measured except red blood count (RBC) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin which did not differ significantly (P<0.05) among the treatments groups. Bucks fed diet T5 recorded higher value of packed cell volume (PCV) while T2 recorded the least. Red blood count (RBC) was higher in T1 while T3 recorded the least. Treatments 2, 3, 4 and 5 recorded highest white blood count (WBC) when compared to T1. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was higher in T4 but did not differ significantly (P>0.05) from that of T5 and also mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) also followed the same trend between T2 and T3. In conclusion Gmelina bark can be included at 250 g in Afzelia Africana leaves without adverse effect on nutrient digestibility and heamatological parameters in goats.
Keywords: Goats, Digestibility, Heamatology, Afzelia africana leave, Gmelina bark.
Title: EFFECTS OF GRADED LEVELS OF GMELINA ABOREA BARK SUPPLEMENTED WITH AFZELIA AFRICANA LEAVES ON NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY AND HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF GOATS
Author: G. J. BANDAWA, E. Y. WABA, A. A. ALLAHOKI
International Journal of Life Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-313X (Print), ISSN 2348-3148 (online)
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