Voluntary intake, digestibility, serology and testosterone level of West African dwarf bucks fed air-dried leaf meal-based diets

Abstract

Evaluation of blood parameters, testosterone and digestibility serve as an index of general physiology and performance of animals. A total of twenty (20) West African dwarf ( WAD) bucks of about six (6) to eight (8) months of age with an average weight of 7.2±0.11 kg were used in the experiment for a duration of 98 days. The animals were allocated to 0,5, 10 and 15 % Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM)-based diets of three goats per treatment in a completely randomized design experiment. However, in 0, 5, and 15% MOLM, CP contents range from 7.93 to 8.54 %. All the experimental animalshad adequate total dry matterintake (DMI) which ranged from 382.59 to 391.39 g/animal/day (p>0.05). The mean percentage crude protein digestibility value tended to be lowest in 0 % MOLM-based diet and increased with increasing proportion of MOLM in the diets (p<0.05). Total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, creatinine, aspartate amino transferase, were similar (p>0.05) while Alanine amino transferase was significantly different (p<0.05). In the present study, inclusion level of 10% MOLMcaused the testosterone level to increase from5.16 ng/ml to 5.30 ng/ml which was the highest level. Conclusively, Moringa oleifera leaf meal improved nutrient intake blood, indices and digestibility in WAD bucks. Animal protein intake could be improved by the incorporation of MOLM-based diets for WAD goats.