PERFORMANCE, HAEMATOLOGY AND SERUM BIOCHEMICAL INDICES OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF BUCKS FED ELEPHANT GRASS (Pennisetum purpureum) SUPPLEMENTED WITH UREA-MAIZE STOVER DIETS.

Abstract

Twelve (12) West African dwarf (WAD) bucks, averaging 10.50 kg in weight were monitored during a-98 day feeding experiment to investigate the performance (feed intake, change in body weight and linear body parameters) and haematology and serum biochemistry when fed Elephant grass supplemented with Urea-Maize stover (UMS) diets during the dry season. The bucks were randomized into four diet treatments three bucks per treatment balanced for body weight. Each group was assigned randomly to one of the four diet treatments containing Elephant grass + UMS at 0, 3, 4.5 and 6% levels of urea inclusion. Feed intake and weight changes were monitored while blood samples were collected and analysed. One-way analysis of variance was used to analyse the data, in a completely randomized design. Results indicated that the voluntary Dry Matter Intake (DMI) by bucks decreased (P<0.05) as the level of dietary urea increases, changes in body weight and linear body parameters were higher (p>0.05) for bucks on control diet compared to others. Hematological and serum biochemical parameters of goats fed experimental diets showed no significant (p>0.05) difference across treatments except in serum total protein, blood urea and sodium, where dietary treatments had significant (P<0.05) influence.