Haematological, biochemical and histopathological studies of goats fed Daniella oliveri foliage mixed with cowpea husk

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the haematological, biochemical and histopathological studies of goats fed Daniella oliveri mixed with cowpea husk. The dietary treatments compared were T1 (100% cowpea husk), T2 (25% Daniella oliveri foliage = 75 cowpea husk), T3 (50% Daniella oliveri foliage = 50% cowpea husk), T4 (75% Daniella oliveri foliage = 25% cowpea husk), T5 (100% Daniella oliveri foliage). The results reveal that T5 had significantly (p>0.05) higher values for ash (958.90 g kg 1 DM), crude protein (166.20 g kg-1 DM), crude fibre (188.50 g kg-1 DM), acid detergent fibre (376.90 g kg-1 DM), neutral detergent fibre (475.90 g kg-1 DM), cellulose (284.70 g kg-1 DM), and hemicelluloses (99.60 g kg-1 DM). T1 significantly had higher ether extract (32.90 g kg-1 DM) and T3 had significantly (p>0.05) higher acid detergent lignin. Packed cell volume (PCV) was significantly higher (P<0.05) for T3 and T4. Haemoglobin (Hb) and Red blood cell count (RBC) were significantly higher (P<0.05) for T4. The mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) was significantly different among treatments (P<0.05). White blood cell differentials (Neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and Basophils) showed significant difference (P<0.05) among treatments. All the parameters studied for serum biochemical indices were significantly (P<0.05) different among treatments. Histopathology revealed that T1 and T2 had more nephrons with increased glomeruli- bowman's space, distended tubules and detached tubular epithelial cells relative to T3, T4 and T5 kidneys. The liver from T1, T2, T4 and T5 had focal areas of sinusoidal dilatation when compared to T3. Serum biochemistry results of markers for kidney (creatinine and serum urea) and liver function (ALT, AST and ALP) showed that the level of histopathology changes were not sufficient to alter their ultimate function when administered for eight weeks, since all values were within normal ranges.Based on these findings, it can be concluded thatfeeding D. oliveri substituting cowpea husk does not pose any health hazard but will require some fortification with minerals and vitamins at lower levels of inclusion.