Blood profile of West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks fed raw and processed cocoa pod husk meal based – diets in the humid high rainforest zone of Nigeria

Abstract

A 12-week feeding trial was carried out using 30 West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks of age between six and eight months with mean initial body weight of 9.36±1.31 kg, to determine the effect of sun-dried, urea-treated and fermented dietary cocoa pod husk meal (CPHM) as well as dietary CPHM with protein supplementation (African yam bean meal) on blood characteristics. Five experimental diets: T1 (0% CPHM-control), T2 (40% sundried CPHM), T3 (40% ureatreated CPHM), T4 (40% fermented CPHM) and T5 (40% CPHM and 10% African yambean) were formulated. Six animals per treatment were randomly assigned to the experimental diets using a CRD. Blood parameters (haematological and serum biochemical indices) were evaluated at the end of the feeding trial. Results of the study showed that the White blood cell counts, packed cell volume and red blood cell counts were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by dietary treatments. In terms of serum chemistry, higher values of urea were recorded in sundried (6.57 mmol/l) and protein supplemented (6.57 mmol/l) groups, followed by the fermented group (6.17mmol/l). Calcium (2.24 mmol/l) and total protein (7.44g/dl) were highest in urea-treated CPHM group followed by the protein supplemented group (1.84 mmol/l and 7.37g/dl) and lowest in the sundried CPHM group (1.14 mmol/l and 6.21g/dl) respectively. The study concludes that blood composition of WAD bucks was best in the urea-treated and protein supplemented groups respectively, and 40% cocoa pod husk meal supplemented with 10% protein (African yambean) can be incorporated in the diets of WAD bucks without fear of compromising haematological and serum biochemical ndices.Keywords: Cocoa pod husk, Urea, Fermented, Protein supplemented, WAD bucks

Biochemical Evaluation of Replacement of Ensiled Cassava Pulp With Cocoa Pod in the Diet of West African Dwarf Goats

“…West African Dwarf goats seemed to possess protective system, providing a quick defence against any infection and this is probably the physiological basis for the adaptation of this species to this ecological zone which is characterized by high occurrences of diseases (Opara et al, 2010). White Blood Cell counts of 5.57x10 9 /L to 6.90 x10 9 /L in 0-20% cocoa pod inclusion corroborates the ndings of Daramola et al (2005) and Anya (2018). This implied that goats on diets of T1 to T3 remained clinically healthy as indicated by researchers (Konlan et al, 2012) and that the animals had good immune defence system against any foreign body in the circulatory system.…”

“…The Total proteins in the diet combinations of T1 to T3 (6.50-7.23g/dl) were comparable to the normal protein range for WAD goats (6.4-7.5g/dl) as reported by Dhanotiya (2004). The differences in protein values were suggestive of the in uence of feeds on the goats feed intake according to Anya (2018). The albumin in this study (2.10-3.70g/dl) was similar to 2.7-3.9g/dl reported by Dhanotiya (2004) and 3.30g/dl reported by Ibrahim et al (2005).…”

“…The productivity of animals is low due to inadequacy and poor quality of the feeds, which in turn in uenced the feed intake by the animals. Processed ocoa pod and cassava pulp can be used as a substitute for maize in formulating rations for chickens, pigs and small ruminants, and at optimal inclusion levels will not pose any risk to the animal (Anya, 2018). Cocoa contains avonoids, an antioxidant necessary for the proper functioning of the heart and brain.…”