Impact of black plum (Vitex doniana) leaf meal on blood biochemistry, hormone and cholesterol level of West African dwarf goat-bucks

Fifteen (15) West African Dwarf (WAD) goat-bucks with average initial weights of 10±0.53kg were used in an experiment to investigate the effect of varying levels of Vitex doniana leaf meal on the blood profiles, hormone and cholesterol level of WAD goat-bucks. The animals were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments consisting of graded levels of Vitex doniana in a Completely Randomized Design experiment which lasted twenty-eight (28) days. At the end of the feeding trial, blood samples were collected from the jugular veins of the animal for the determination of haematological and serum biochemical characteristics using standard laboratory methods. The Vitex doniana leaf had a crude protein of 8.53, crude fibre of 7.15, crude fat of 6.44 and ash of 8.26 percent and were moderately high in flavonoids 20.82, phenols 96.14, saponin 6.48mg/100g with slight presence of alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids, steroids and anthraquinones. The effects of graded levels of Vitex doniana leaf meal on haematology of WAD goat-bucks reveals that red blood cell (RBC) significantly (p<0.05) increase with concurrent increase in Vitex doniana leaf meal whereas the haemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) reduced with the addition of the leaf meal. Other parameters were not significantly (p>0.05) different from the control, although it varies with increase in the leaf meal addition. The serum biochemistry of West African dwarf bucks showed that total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), urea and glucose significantly increased with increase in Vitex doniana leaf meal. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was significantly (p<0.05) influenced by the increase in Vitex doniana leaf meal inclusion. The ALT and AST were not significantly (p>0.05) different from the control in treatment D. Phytochemical results shows Vitex doniana has high content of phenol, flavonoid and saponin; it significantly increase total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein with a reduction in high density lipoprotein with 20g/kg feed while triglyceride and high density lipoprotein were high with 10g/kg feed. It significantly reduced luteinizing hormone while causing an increase in follicle stimulating hormone, testosterone and prolactin with 15g/kg. The administration of 15g inclusion level of Vitex doniana leaf meal increases the reproductive performance while administration of 10g inclusion level helped to lower the cholesterol level in WAD bucks with no conspicuous adverse effects and their health status was not compromised. All the haematological and serum biochemical characteristics of the bucks were within the normal/ standard blood ranges for apparently healthy bucks. The study therefore concludes that farmers can supplement feed with up to 20% Vitex doniana leaf meal in formulated diets meant for goats, without fear of compromising haematopoietic processes. Keywords: Blood, Feed, leaf-meal, WAD goat-buck

Organ weight, serum biochemistry and gut microbial counts of Thryonomys swinderianus fed diet supplemented with Vernonia amygdalina leaf meal

The study investigated the effect of Vernonia amygdalina (VA) leaf supplementation on organ weight and gut microbial count of Thryonomys  swinderianus. Thirty-six weaner grasscutters of mixed sexes were allotted randomly to six treatments (A, B, C, D, E, and F) in a completely randomized design for a nutritional trial of 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, caecum, kidney, liver, lungs, intestine and the heart were excised  to determine their weights and the intestinal/caecal contents and scrapings were obtained to determine the fungi and bacteria population. Data collected were analyzed using one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The VA supplementation had significant effect (p<0.05) on relative organs with a range of 0.47 –0.60%, 0.40 – 0.62%, 1.20 – 2.83%, 0.52 - 0.58%, 5.53 – 12.91%, 714.00 – 960.00g, 494.00 –781.00g and 479.00 – 747.00g for lungs, heart, liver, kidney, intestine, live weight, eviscerated and carcass weight of the grasscutter respectively, with a smaller relative weight of the kidney from 3g/kg VA supplementation upwards. The serum biochemical parameters were also significantly affected by VA supplementation. There was a  decrease in alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase but were within the normal range required for rodents. Total protein and Albumin were significantly improved by the supplement while total bilirubin was variable with a significant decrease prior to 4gVA supplementation. Microbial populations in the intestine and ceacum were reduced to varying extent by the supplement. It could be  concluded that VA supplementation reduced intestinal and caecal microbes and increased the live and carcass weights but decreased relative weights of selected organs in the grasscutter. Keywords: Grasscutter, Vernonia amygdalina, Organ weight, Microbial count

Hormone inducive effects of Syzygium aromaticum (Clove) extract on the reproductive performance of Bucks

Syzygium aromaticum (Clove) is a small evergreen tree of the myrtle family known for its unopened reddish-brown flower bud with strong aromatic flavor that are used for culinary purpose and are believed to have aphrodisiac properties. The objective of the experiment was to assess the effect of clove extract on hormone profile of West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks. One hundred and fifty WAD bucks with average weights of 10kg were randomly assigned to five treatments with 30bucks per treatment in a completely randomized design. Treatment A (control) and B were subcutaneously administered 0.1mL/kg of normal saline solution and 0.1mL/kg sildenafil citrate, respectively. Treatments C, D and E were administered 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3mL/kg of clove extract, respectively. The result showed a significant increase in WBC while PCV decreased with corresponding increase in extract doses. The extracts also significantly cause a reduction in creatinine, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) with a significant increase in serum urea and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). There were significant increase in serum testosterone and prolactin while follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone were reduced. It was therefore concluded that subcutaneous administration of syzygium aromaticum extract could enhance sexual function at low doses of 0.1mL/kg body weight of bucks with no observable tissue damage

Growth Performance Characteristics of Goats Fed Varied Levels of Poultry Manure in whole Cassava Plant Based Concentrate Diet

A 56-day feed intake, growth and digestibility trial was carried out to investigate the use of poultry manure as a fermentable nitrogen source in whole cassava plant-based concentrate fed to goats on basal Panicummaximum hay (9.18 % CP). Sixteen adult (2 years old; 12.48 – 16.72 kg initial body weights) West African Dwarf goats were blocked on the basis of body weights into four similar groups that were assigned randomly to four treatments. Treatments consisted of dried poultry manure that was included in a cassava-based concentrate at 0, 14, 18 or 22 % level. Average feed intake (g/W0.725 kg) was reduced (p < 0.05) in goats fed poultry manure at 22 % inclusion level when compared with the other dietary groups. Effects of poultry manure treatments on digestibility of dry matter or crude protein, nitrogen retention and body weight gain were significant (p < 0.05). It was concluded that poultry manure could be used to complement cassava leaf meal in cassava plant-based concentrates for the goats. The use of poultry manure as a source of fermentable nitrogen would promote activities of rumen microbial populations for efficient fermentation and reduce the constraints associated with collection and processing of cassava leaf in sufficient quantity for inclusion in the diet