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ABSTRACT: A study was conducted to evaluate the haematological and serum biochemical indices of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats fed Panicum maximum supplemented with Myrianthus arboreus leaf meal. Four diets were formulated such that diets A contained 0, B 10, C 11 and D12% of Myrianthus arboreus leaf meal respectively to replace palm kernel cake in a complete concentrate diet. The diets were fed to twelve (12) (WAD) goats randomly assigned in a Completely Randomized Design with three animals per treatment, each serving as a replicate. Blood was collected from each animal via the jugular vein into bottles containing anticoagulant and without anti-coagulant for the measurement of heamatological and serum biochemical indices respectively. The study lasted for 63 days. Results showed that the blood parameters were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by the diet. Goats fed diet D had the highest packed cell volume (30.33%), red blood cells (1.12 x 106 μl), white blood cell (0.33 x 106 μl), hemoglobin (9.67 x 106 μl), lymphocytes (64.67%), and neutrophil (25.33%). The serum biochemical parameters also indicated that total protein (66.09g/l) was highest in diet C. The albumin (38.67g/l), albumin/globulin ratio (2.02) were higher in animals offered diet D, while the serum enzymes alanine aminotransferase (8.80 iu/l) and aspartate aminotransferase (218.67iu/l) were least in animals fed diet C. The results suggest that Panicum maximum can be supplemented with Myrianthus arboreus at 12% inclusion level without adverse effect on the health status of the goats

Keywords: Aspartate aminotransferase; Globulin; Haematology; Myrianthus arboreus; WAD goats.

JoST. 2021. 11(1): 32-37
Accepted for Publication, March 13, 2021