Blood components of red Sokoto goats fed <i>Moringa oleifera</i> (l) leaf meal supplemented diets

Abstract

The aim of this study was to study the effects of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) supplemented diets on the blood components of Red Sokoto goats. . Twenty (20) Red Sokoto goats (males) with ages ranging 5 to 10 months with an average live weight of 7 to 9 kg, were allotted to five dietary treatments in a randomized complete design with four animals per treatment. The treatments are 0%, 12.5%, 25%, 37.5% and 50% of Moringa oleifera respectively. The feeding trial lasted for 90 days. The results obtained revealed significant effects (p<0.05) of MOLM on blood haematological parameters; lymphocytes (54.79%) in MOLM, neutrophils (62.25%) in 37.5% MOLM and platelets (324 x 10³/μl) in 50% MOLM. The PCV, Hb, RBC, WBC, eosinophils, MCHC, MCV and MCH were not significantly affected (p>0.05) by treatments. Significant influence (p<0.05) were observed in bicarbonate (27.75 mmol/l) in 50% MOLM, chloride (113.00 mmol/l) and creatinine (55.25 mmol/l), sodium (144.60 mmol/l) 12.5% MOLM, ALT (14.00 IU/L) in 50% MOLM, ALP (83.58 IU/L) in 25% MOLM and AST (61.75 IU/L) while non significant effects (p>0.05) were recorded in bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin, globulin, glucose, potassium, urea, and albumin. Based on these findings, it was observed that supplementation at 50% level of inclusion could therefore be used to enhance the platelet counts, neutrophils, Na, Cl, Bicarbonate, total protein and ALT values of Red Sokoto bucks.

Keywords: Blood compoment, Red Sokoto. Moringa oleifera