HAEMATOLOGY AND SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY OF GROWING RED SOKOTO BUCKS FED DIETS CONTAINING GRADED LEVELS OF CASSAVA PEEL MEAL AS SUPPLEMENT TO NEEM LEAVES

Abstract

The study evaluated the haematology and serum biochemistry of growing Red Sokoto bucks fed diets containing graded levels of cassava peel meal as a supplement to neem leaves. Sixteen (16) Red Sokoto bucks aged about 8 – 9 months old were allocated into four (4) treatments of four (4) bucks each. The bucks were fed neem leaves at 300g/buck/day and a concentrate supplement diet 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, cassava peels and neem leaves samples were analyzed for their proximate composition. At the end of the experiment, haematological and serum biochemical parameters were analyzed. All haematological parameters evaluated were significant (P < 0.05) except Basophil and were within the normal range of values for goats. Serum biochemical parameters evaluated were statistically significant (P < 0.05) except Chloride, Creatinine, total bilirubin, total protein and albumin; and were within the normal range of values for goats. It was concluded that cassava 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 cassava peel meal up to 15% is safe for growing Red Sokoto bucks.