SERUM BIOCHEMICAL INDICES AND PROTEIN EXPRESSION IN YANKASA RAMS FED CASSAVA PEELS AND GMELINA ARBOREA SILAGE

Abstract

A 21-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of ensiled Gmelina arborea leaves and cassava peel mixtures on serum biochemistry and protein expression in Yankasa rams before and after feeding. Ten (10) rams were randomly assigned to two (2) experimental diets: 100% Gmelina arborea leaves (Diet A) and a 50:50 cassava peel-Gmelina arborea mixture (Diet B), both ensiled for 75 days using randomized two-group experiment design. Before the feeding trial, all measured biochemical parameters were not significantly different (P > 0.05), except for cholesterol and triglycerides. However, after the feeding trial (21-days), significant (P < 0.05) increase was observed in all parameters, except for cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which decreased when compared to pre-trial values. Protein expression analysis revealed increased expression and intensity of myosin (245 kDa) and transferrin (80 kDa) in rams fed Diet B compared to those fed Diet A. These findings suggest that Diet B is beneficial as it regulates and improves the biochemical profile, with reduction in cholesterol and LDL levels. Diet B, is therefore, recommended for enhanced biochemical health and protein expression in rams.