Growth Performance and Hematological Characteristics of West African Dwarf Goats Fed Oil Palm Leaf Meal – Cassava Peel Based Diets

The growth performance and hematological characteristics of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats fed oil palm leaf meal – cassava peel based diets were determined. Nine growing bucks aged 6 – 8months with mean body weight ranging between 7 – 8kg were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments comprising three animals per treatment in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Treatment 1 served as a control diet with 0% oil palm leaf meal (OPLM) while treatments II and III contained 15% and 30% oil palm leaf meal respectively. Each animal received each diet for 60days. The animals were weighed weekly. Blood was collected through the jugular vein and put into well labeled bottle containing anticoagulant ethylene diamine tetracetic acid (EDTA). The blood samples were analyzed for red blood cell (RBC) count, packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb), white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils and monocytes. Final body weight was significant (P < 0.05) with treatment III having the highest (10.67kg). There were significant (P < 0.05) differences in the Feed conversion ratio (FCR) values of the goats that fed the three treatments with treatments III having the best FCR and body weight gain of 9.00 and 44.23kg respectively. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were obtained in white blood cell count, packed cell volume a nd hemoglobin which ranged from 2.23 – 3.48 x 103ml, 23.00 – 32.33% and 7.50 – 9.73g/dl respectively. The neutrophils and lymphocytes were also significantly different (P < 0.05). They ranged from 59.53 – 61.67% and 19.33 – 30.00% for neutrophils and lymphocytes respectively. The eosinophils and monocytes were not significantly different (P > 0.05). The body weight and the nutritional health status of the goats can be enhanced with the inclusion of oil palm leaf meal in a cassava peel based diet.