Preliminary Investigation of Some Serum Biochemical Parameters of Confined Nigerian Cattle Breeds in Ibadan, South-West Nigeria Fed with Some Conventional and Non-Conventional Feedstuffs

Abstract

Unavailability of adequate livestock feeds is a long term constraint to the expansion of livestock industry in Nigeria. Cattle production needs high quantity feeds requirement but hampered by high cost and dwindling herbage in Nigeria.This preliminary investigation determined the combined effects of conventional {Elephant Grass (EG), Guinea Grass (GG), Cassava Peels (CP)} and non-conventional feeds {Banana Leaf (BL), Banana Stem (BS), and Wood Saw-dust (WS)} on the levels of cholesterol and some other biochemical parameters in fully-confined cattle breeds in Ibadan. Male (9) and female (14) cattle of different age groups were used. Feeds is a major limitation for rearing cattle in full-confinement in the area, hence the aim of this investigation is to assess important nutritive values and safety parameters of the alternative feeds to the cattle and consumers.Proximate analysis for each of the feeds was determined for %crude protein, % crude fibre, % crude fat, % ash, % dry matter and % moisture content. The serum biochemical parameters analyzed were cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose (mg/dl); total protein, albumin, globulin and creatinine (g/ml). All analysis were determined by standard methods. Results of proximate analysis showed the following feeds with highest values, crude-protein (EG 15.13+0.11%), crude-fibre (EG 29.8+1.56%), crude fat (EG 4.40+0.57%), ash (BB 12.15+0.21%), dry matter (BA 94.90+0.14%) and moisture (WM 7.83+0.25%). The following cattle breeds showed the highest serum biochemistry values, cholesterol (Bororo-female ¹, 253 mg/dl), triglycerides (Bororo-female ²,  5.4mg/dl), glucose (Gudali-male³, 224 mg/dl), total protein (Gudali-female⁷, 34.92 g/ml), albumin (Gudali-male² and Bororo-female¹,10.17 g/ml each), globulin (Gudali-male⁷, 32.38g/ml), albumin/globulin ratio (Gudali-male² and Bororo-female ¹, 0.84 each) and creatinine (Gudali-female⁶ and Cross Kugu-male¹, 3.20g/ml each). The study concluded that the non-conventional feeds had high levels of crude proteins, crude fibre, dry matter, moisture  and the serum biochemistry values were within normal reference intervals. However, lower triglycerides and higher creatinine values were recorded, which indicated further tests on liver and kidney functions. No clinical signs of organs abnormality were manifested.

Keywords: Conventional, alternative feedstuffs, Nigerian cattle, serum biochemistry