SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY AND HORMONAL INDICES OF KALAWAD BUCKS FED BRACHIARIA RUZIZIENSIS AND PANICUM MAXIMUM
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.5027Keywords:
Serum biochemistry, Panicum maximum, KALAWAD buck, ruzi grass, hormonal indicesAbstract
Rising interest in livestock development because of the demand for animal products, has led to research into identifying drought tolerant, more productive and persistent forages to support livestock productivity, among which are Guinea grass and Ruzi grass. Thus, a study was carried out to evaluate serum biochemistry and hormonal indices of Kalawad bucks fed Brachiaria ruziziensis and Panicum maximum. Twelve KALAWAD bucks were subjected to a completely randomized design for an 84 day study to evaluate the blood profiles of the goats fed two different grass forages in the wilted forms. The two forages were fed on experimental basis as the sole Panicum maximum (PM), the sole Brachiaria ruziziensis (BR) and ratio 1:1 mixture of Panicum maximum and Brachiaria ruziziensis (PMBR) and blood samples were collected for serum biochemical parameters. Total protein, Albumin, Globulin, Malondialdehyde, Superoxidedismutase, Total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, Glutathione, Cortisol, Copper, Zinc, Selenium, Potassium, Sodium and Magnesium. The results obtained revealed that haematology parameters of the goats fed with PM, BR and PMBR were within the standard
values with no significant difference. Total bilirubin, Zinc and Sodium were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by the diets with bucks fed with PM having highest values of 0.22±0.02mg/dl, 0.46±0.04mg/L and 119.61±3.11mg/L respectively while Selenium was highest in bucks fed BR (1.06±0.12mg/L). The study concluded that the experimental diets did not adversely affect the growth and health of the animals.
