Performance, Haematology And Serum Biochemical Parameters Of Growing Grass Cutters (Thyronoyms Swinderianus) Fed Phyllantus Amarus And Pilogstigma Thonngii Leaf Meal Mixture As Partial Replacement For Soya Bean Meal

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the performance, haematology and se-rum biochemical parameters of growing grasscutters (Thrynomys swinderianus) fed Phyl-lantus amarus (PAM) and Pilogstigma thonngii leaf meal (PTM) mixture as partial re-placement for soya bean meal. A total of 35 weaned grasscutters of mixed sex between 5-6 weeks with an average weight of 436.1 and 437.0 g were divided into five groups of 7 animals each and randomly assigned to 5 experimental diets each animal served as a repli-cate in a completely randomized design. The dietary treatments include a control diet with no PATML, T2 (10.0% PATML), T3 (20.0 % PATML), T4 (30.0 % PATML) and T5 (40.0 % PATML) respectively. Feed and water were offered ad libitum throughout the experiment which lasted for 12 weeks. The data obtained was used to evaluate the growth, haematological parameters (PCV, RBC, Hb, MCV, MCH , MCHC, WBC and its differentials ), serum biochemical indices (Albumin, globulin, total protein, creatinine, cholesterol, calcium, phosphorus, ALP, AST and ALT) and fatty acid composition. Aver-age weight gain, average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio were influenced by the dietary treatments (P<0.05). Haematological and serum parameters were significantly (P<0.05) different among the treatments and were within the normal physiological range for grasscutters. It could be concluded that replacement of soya meal with 40 % PATML does not have any deleterious effect on the performance and blood profile of the animal.