INFLUENCE OF FEEDING GRADED LEVELS OF CASSAVA PULP AND DRY POULTRY DROPPINGS BASED DIET ON SERUM BIOCHEMICAL INDICES OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF RAMS

Abstract

The study was carried out to assess the serum biochemical indices in rams fed cassava pulp and sundried poultry droppings as an alternative energy and protein source. A total of twelve West African Dwarf rams aged 9-12 months were used for the experiment of 70 days feeding trial. Chopped elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) were used as basal diet and four diets of Cassava pulp and Dry poultry droppings as concentrate supplements-based diets. The four diets (T1 - 0% Cassava pulp and 0% Dry poultry droppings, T2 - 25% Cassava pulp and 25% Dry poultry droppings, T3 - 50% Cassava pulp and 50% Dry poultry droppings, and T4 - 75% Cassava pulp and 75% Dry poultry droppings) were fed to the rams at the rate of 3% of the body weight. The rams were divided into four treatments in a completely randomized design. Data collected were total protein, albumin, globulin, Albumin globulin ratio and many others. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and the mean were separated using Duncan multiple range test. The serum biochemical indices were within the normal range. This is an indication that there was no deleterious effect of cassava pulp and dried poultry droppings on the serum biochemical profile and even on the health of the animals