HAEMATOLOGICAL AND SERUM PROFILE OF YANKASA RAMS FED ENSILED CORNCOB LAYER-LITTER BASED DIET WITH GRADED LEVELSOF F. POLITA LEAF MEAL IN A TOTAL MIXED RATION

Abstract

Provision of feed for ruminants in a profitable livestock enterprise is a challenge. Use of conventional diets often results to high cost of input. Animal based fed may be available and cheaper but may detrimental to the animal consuming it. Thus, this study was conducted to determine the haematological and serum profile of Yankasa rams fed ensiled corncob layer-litter based diet with different levels of Ficus polita leaf meal in a Total Mixed Ration. Sixteen rams weighing averagely 21kg were assigned to four diets containing 0, 15, 30, and 45% inclusion levels of FPLM in a completely randomized design. The rams were fed 4% of their body weight daily at 8:00am and 4:00pm for 90 days. Blood samples were collected at the end of 90days for haematological and serum analysis. The results showed that significant (P<0.05) differences were recorded in the PVC, HB and RBC levels with higher values of 30.50%, 11.23g/dL, and 5.28 x1012/L, respectively recorded in the rams fed the experimental diet with FPLM at 45% inclusion level. The white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte and monocytes counts of Yankasa rams fed experimental diets were not significantly (P>0.05) influenced. The serum biochemistry results showed that the total protein of rams fed the control diet was significantly (P<0.05) lower than those on 15% inclusion level of FPLM. The blood urea, and albumin level were significantly (P<0.05) affected and decreased as inclusion level of FPLM increased, while the levels of globulin and creatinine significantly (P<0.05) increased with increase in inclusion levels of FPLM. The result obtained in this study falls within the normal range
reported for a healthy ram and showed that ensiled corncob layer-litter with FPLM did not have adverse effects on health status of Yankasa rams.