Nutrient digestibility and haematological indices of West African Dwarf goats fed Cnidosculus aconitifolius multinutrient blocks as supplement

Abstract

The study involves twenty-four (12) yearling West African Dwarf Goats. The goats were assigned randomly to three treatments viz: Cnidoscolus-Poultry Manure-Multinutrient Blocks (CPMNB), Cnidoscolus-Urea -Multinutrient Blocks (CUMNB) and control consisting of Panicum maximum and cassava peels. Each treatment consists of eight goats as replicates. They were adequately fed and provided with fresh and clean water. The hematological parameters and nutrient digestibility as influenced by the three treatments were evaluated. The Packed Cell Volume (PCV) value for goats fed the experimental multinutrient blocks ranged from 25.25 + 1.25% in CUMNB to 20.25 + 2.25% in CPMNB and that of the control diet was 19.90 + 1.59%. The red blood cell varied from 545 + 116.0x10 6 mm -1 in CUMNB to 335 + 64.0 x 10 6 mm -1 in CPMNB with control having the value 222.58 +25.61 x10 6 mm -1 . The White Blood Cell (WBC) was highest in CUMNB (263.5 + 1.65 x 10 3 mm -1 ), followed by CPMNB (151.5 + 10.8 x10 3 mm1 ) while the least value was recorded in the goat fed control diet (137.9 ± 2.75 x10 3 mm -1 ). The haemoglobin concentration (HBC) was lowest in goats fed the control diet (5.92 + 0.18g 100 mm -1 ). The Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mm hr -1 ) varied from 3.41 + 0.1 in CUMNB to 1.33 + 0.34 in goats fed the control diet. The mean corpuscular volume (MCU) µm -3 was highest in goats fed supplemental CUMNB (8.9 + 0.08) and lowest in goat fed the control diet (4.6 + 0.6). The mean corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH) (pg) was highest in goats fed supplemental CUMNB (2.66 + 0.15) and lowest in goat fed the control diet (1.6 + 0.55). The lymphocyte values were 63.0 + 2.0%, 65.66 + 1.34% and 62.25 + 1.25% for CPMNB, CUMNB and control respectively. Neutrophilis (%) value for CUMNB was 29.25 + 3.25, CPMNB value was 28.25 + 2.67 and that of the control treatment was 27.25 + 1.75. The Monocytes (%) value for CUMNB was the highest (6.4 + 0.6), followed by CPMNB (5.0 + 0.00) and the control treatment has the least value (4.90 + 0.42). The Eosinophils (%) values varied from 2.0 + 0.25 in CUMNB to 1.83 + 0.17 in control treatment. The goats fed control diet showed the least values for the haemological variables. The percent digestible nutrient and coefficient of digestibility in the feed showed that goats fed supplemental Cnidoscolus- based multinutrient blocks had better nutrient utilization. Thus better rumen digestion and haematological performance than goats fed diet of Panicum- cassava peels ration.