SERUM CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS LEVELS IN BROWN SAVANNA BUCKS AND DOES KEPT SEMI-INTENSIVELY

Abstract

A ten (10) weeks experiment was conducted to establish a baseline data on the levels of Calcium and Phosphorus in the blood serum of ten (10) Savanna Brown goats (9-12months old with an average body weight of 13.55kg) consisting of five (5) males and five (5) non-lactating and non-pregnant females reared under semi intensive system of management and 9000g of yam peel per day was provided as supplemental feed. The study was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Animal Production Technology, Federal University of Technology Minna, Gidan Kwanu Campus, Minna, Niger State. The goats were allotted into two (2) treatments with each treatment consisting of five (3) replicates of male and female goats respectively using a completely randomized design (CRD). Blood samples were taken from both male and female goats bi-weekly for a period of ten (10) weeks via jugular vein puncture using a Sml syringe. Blood samples (Sml each) were collected into anti-coagulant free plastic tubes, allowed to coagulate at room temperature and centrifuged for 15minutes at 3000rpm. The supernatant sera were then stored (at -20°C) prior to analysis. Data were statistically analyzed using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significant differences between means were separated using Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The results show that there were no significant differences (P>0.05) between the Serum Calcium levels for bucks (2.6440.33mmol/L) and does (3.03+0.54mmol/L) and Phosphorus levels for bucks (1.34+0.12mmol/L) and does (1.40+£0.16mmol/L) within the weeks of study. It was concluded that the serum calcium and phosphorus obtained from the experimental animals meet the normal values in the body of growing goats; although the serum phosphorus levels were low. It is recommended that goats kept semi-intensively in the study area should be provided with free choice mineral supplements, especially Phosphorus for their optimum productivity because the phosphorus levels observed in this study was low although it falls within the normal range.