Haematological and Biochemical Indices of Growing L ambs Fed Fore-Stomach Digesta and Poultry Litter Waste

Abstract

Haematological values and blood urea nitrogen level s of growing Uda lambs fed fore- stomach digesta (FSD) and poultry litter waste (PLW ) were studied. The experimental animals were randomly allotted (n=4/treatments) to diets A (20% FSD), B (20% PLW), C (10% each of FSD and PLW), D (6.67% FSD and 13.33% PLW) and E (13.33% FS D and 6.67% PLW). The experiment lasted for 84 days. Blood samples were collected pr ior to and after the feeding trial for haematologic al and blood urea nitrogen determination. Initial pack ed cell volume and final red blood cell counts were not significantly different between treatments (P>0 .05). Initial haemoglobin concentration (HB) was similar (P>0.05) to those on treatments A, C, D, an d E while final HB concentration was similar (P>0.05) for those on treatments B, C, and E. Initi al and final values of neutrophil and lymphocyte counts were not significantly different (P>0.05) fo r all treatments. There were no traces of eosinophi ls at the end of the feeding trial while monocyte coun ts were not significantly different (P>0.05) at the beginning and end of the feeding trial. Total prote in showed no significant difference in all the treatments at initial and final collections of bloo d. Similar results were observed for albumin and globulin concentrations. Haematological values and blood urea nitrogen were within normal values; indicating that there was no toxicity associated wi th the feeding of FSD and PLW alone or in mixtures to growing lambs. It was concluded that the test di ets were not toxic to animals based on the haematological indices and blood biochemical parame ters which were within recommended values.