HAEMATOLOGY AND SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY OF RED SOKOTO BUCKS FED DIETS CONTAINING GRADED LEVELS OF YAM (Dioscorea Spp) PEEL MEAL AS SUPPLEMENT TO SHEA BUTTER LEAVES (Vitellaria paradoxa)

Abstract

The study evaluated the haematology and serum biochemistry of Red Sokoto bucks fed diets containing graded levels of yam peel meal as supplement to shea butter leaves. Sixteen (16) Red Sokoto bucks aged about 11 – 12 months old were allocated into four (4) treatments of four (4) bucks each. The bucks were fed shea butter leaves at 500g/buck/day and a concentrate supplement diet containing (0%, 5%, 10% and 15% yam peels) at 250g per buck/day for a duration of fifty (50) days, water was served ad libitum, feed intake was monitored and recorded. The experimental design was a complete randomized design. Concentrate, yam peels and shea butter leaves samples were analyzed for their proximate composition. At the end of the experiment, haematological and serum biochemical parameters were analyzed. Haematological parameters evaluated had significant (P < 0.05) difference except Basophil, Eosinophil, Neutrophil, Lymphocyte, MCV and MCHC. All haematological parameters evaluated across the groups were within the normal range of values for goats. Serum biochemical parameters evaluated were statistically significant (P < 0.05) except Cholesterol, HDL, total bilirubin, Globulin and Glucose. However, the serum biochemical parameters evaluated across the groups were within the normal range of values for goats. It was concluded that yam peel meal in the concentrate diet of growing Red Sokoto bucks had no adverse effect on haematology and serum biochemistry. Inclusion of graded levels of yam peel meal up to 15% is safe for growing Red Sokoto bucks.