Blood profile of grazing Bunaji bulls supplemented with diets containing cooked mucuna

Abstract

A total of 12 yearling Bunaji bulls weighing between 146.00 kg – 147.67 kg were used to evaluate the blood profile of grazing white Bunaji bulls supplemented with diets containing cooked mucuna seed meal (CMSM) in a completely randomized design. Mucuna seeds were bought from farmers within Makurdi metropolis and its environs and used for the study. Collected seeds were poured into boiling water in a pot set over an open fire and allowed to boil for 60 minutes. Thereafter the cooked seeds were removed from the fire, drained using local baskets and sun-dried on concrete slabs for 7 days. The sun-dried seeds were then packed and crushed into a meal using a cereal grinding mill and bagged in synthetic sacks for use. Four (4) experimental diets were compounded to contain 0%, 25%, 50% and 75% CMSM and the diets were tagged diets A, B, C and D respectively. Results showed that cooking improved the crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE) values of the seeds. Boiling the mucuna seeds reduced all anti-nutrients except flavonoids. There was no treatment effect (P>0.05) in the mean values for all the hematological parameters measured. The serum biochemical parameters however, showed treatment effect (P<0.05) in the mean values for all the parameters measured except in urea and total cholesterol values. Although almost all the serum biochemical parameters showed treatment effect (P<0.05) values were within normal ranges. Cooked mucuna seed meal can be used to replace soybean meal in the diets of Bunaji bulls without compromising health of the animals.