Heamatology and Serum Quality of Red Sokoto Goats Fed Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) Fruit Meal Supplement

Abstract

The haematology and serum components of Red Sokoto goats fed baobab fruit meal  was investigated. A total of 16 animals were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments with four animal per replicate in a completely randomized design. Treatment 1 was control with no baobab fruit meal supplement, Treatments 2 , 3 and 4 had 10%, 20% and 30%  respectively. The heamatological and serum characteristics were significantly affected (P<0.05) across the treatments with Treatment 3 (20% inclusion) having the highest PCV (%), Hb (g/dl) and RBC (X 10^9/l) respectively. The serum quality of T3 and T4 were not significantly different but albumin and iron levels were higher in T3 . However, the cholesterol level fluctuates along the treatment with control having the highest cholesterol level of 67.25 ± 2.0^ab while T3 had the least value of 60.95 ± 5.1^b. The study showed that all the dietary inclusion are satisfactory as feed for small ruminant without any deleterious effect on performance and blood profile.  Inclusion level of 20% baobab appeared to have better overall performance when fed to red sokoto goat.

Keywords: baobab fruit meal, red sokoto goats, haematology, serum