Performance and Blood Profile of Grower West African Dwarf (WAD) Bucks Fed Graded Levels of Toasted Baobab (<i>Adansonia digitata</i>) Seed Meal

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance and blood parameters of West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks fed graded levels of toasted baobab seed meal for 84 days. Baobab seeds were washed, sun-dried and toasted uniformly using a cast iron pan. The toasted baobab seeds were crushed with a roller mill grinding machine to make baobab seed meal (BSM). The BSM was included at 0%, 25%, 50% and 75% levels in diets 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively to replace soybean. Each treatment was replicated four times in a completely randomized design. Uncoagulated blood samples were collected from WAD bucks at the end of the 84 days’ feeding trial and analysed for packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentrate (Hb), red blood cells (RBC) and white blood cells (WBC). The mean corpuscular haemoglobin volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), platelets, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils were calculated using PCV, RBC and Hb. The blood meant for serological analysis was centrifuged at 1000 G for 10 minutes, after which the serum was separated and used for determining serum total protein (Tp), albumin, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT). The inclusion of baobab seed meal up to 50% in the experimental diet did not have any negative effect on the performance of the goats and did not pose any health challenge to the animals during the study period.

Effects of Vitamin E and Selenium on Fertility and Lamb Performance of Yankasa Sheep

Effects of vitamin E and Selenium administration on fertility and lamb performance of Yankasa sheep were evaluated. Thirty post pubertal ewes (1-1 1/2 years of age) and nine rams (2-2 1/2 years of age) were used for the study. The ewes were randomly assigned into 3 groups (n = 10). Animals in group 1 served as control and were administered 1 ml normal saline. Animals in group 2 were administered 90 mg Tocopherol acetate (Vitamin E), while group 3 received injection containing a combination of 100 mg tocopherol acetate and 1.97 mg sodium selenite. Two doses of the injections were administered 14 days apart (subcutaneously). Estrus was synchronized in the ewes using controlled internal drug release device (CIDR). Rams were used for estrus detection and mating starting 24 hours following withdrawal of CIDR. Ewes were allowed to carry the pregnancy to term. The results indicate higher (p < 0.05) estrus response (80.00, 100.00, 100.00), pregnancy rate (75.00, 100.00, 100.00) and lambing rate (66.6, 100.00, 100.00) in ewes following administration of vitamin E and a combination of vitamin E and selenium. Average daily weight gain of lambs was also significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) by treatment. It can be concluded that administration of Vitamin E alone and in combination with selenium resulted in improved reproductive performance on Yankasa sheep.