The effects of oil palm leaf meal-based diets on the growth performance and haematological indices of red Sokoto goats

Abstract

An experiment was carried out to determine the growth performance and haematological indices of Red Sokoto goats placed on oil palm leaf meal (OPLM)-wheat offal based diet. Six goats aged 12-18 months, weighing 15 – 20kg were randomly assigned to three treatments,comprising two animals each in a Completely Randomized Design. Each animal received 1kg of the diet daily for 56 days and weighed weekly. Results showed that final body weight was significant (P<0.05) with goats on T₃ having the highest (21.50kg). The feed intake, body weight gain and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) were significantly different (P<0.05). T₃ had the highest feed intake (305.35g/d), highest body weight gain (90.84g/d) and the best FCR (3.36). Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in the Red Blood Cell (RBC), Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and Haemoglobin (Hb) counts, ranging between 3.12 - 4.20x10⁶ml; 23.00 -30.50% and 7.70 - 10.15g/dl respectively with goats on T₃ having the highest. This enhanced the health status of Red Sokoto goats fed with the experimental diets.

The inclusion of OPLM enhanced body weight gain, FCR, RBC, PCV, and Hb counts of the goats. Therefore the oil palm leaf meal diets are recommended for better goat production.

Keywords: Body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, haemoglobin, packed cell volume, red blood cells