Thermophysiological Responses of West African Dwarf (WAD) Bucks Fed <i>Pennisetum purpureum</i> and Unripe Plantain Peels.

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the physiological responses of West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks fed Pennisetum purpureum (PP) and unripe plantain peels (UPP). Thirty 30 growingWAD bucks with average weight of 7.00 ± 0.55kg and aged between 8 and 9 months old, were allotted to three (3) dietary treatments (A, B and C) with ten bucks per treatment in a complete randomized design. The compared diets were; A (Pennisetum purpureum which served as control group), B (equal ratio of Pennisetum purpureum with unripe plantain peels) and C(unripe plantain peels). The results showed that parameters observed under thermophysiological, haematological and serum biochemical parameters were significantly (P<0.05) affected by dietary treatments with the exception of albumin and globulin. PVC (30.02± 1.36%), Hb (10.02± 0.02 g/l), RBC (11.01 ± 0.46 x 10⁶/μl),MCH (9.85± 0.34 Pg), MCV (28.02± 0.58fl), MCHC (33.86± 0.39g/dl), total protein(7.20± 0.20 g/dl), triglyceride (10.59± 0.66 mg/dl) and urea (17.04± 0.02 mg/ dl) were significantly (P<0.05) highest in diet A while creatinine (1.95± 0.04 mg/dl) was ighest in diet B. Rectal temperature (40.02 ± 0.02⁰C), respiratory rate (18.34± 0.21 breaths/min), pulse rate (89.01±0.41 beats /mins), heat stress index (1.09± 0.03), WBC (13.02±0.45 x 10⁶/μl) and cholesterol (66.88± 0.61mg/dl) were significantly (P<0.05) better in diet C. It was concluded that equal ratio of Pennisetum purpureum and unripe plantain peels has the potential to improve physiological responses in WAD bucks.

Key words: Unripe plantain peels, thermophysiological responses, WAD bucks.