ABSRTACT

A study was conducted to evaluate the hacmatological and biochemical indices of West African Dwarf rams fed different levels of maggot-upgraded poultry droppings (MUID). Three diets were formulated to contain MUPD at 0, 10 and 20% designated A, B, and C respectively. Six rams aged between 12 to 16 months with weight range of 7 to 9 kg were randomly assigned to three (3) treatments groups in a 3X3 Latin Square design experiment. There were three periods of the study and each period lasted 28 days. Blood samples were collected through the jugular vein of the sheep in the last day of each period for evaluation of haematological and biochemical indices of the animals. The crude protein and crude fibre contents of the diets were significantly (P<0.05) higher in diets B and C than in A, and were 13.18, 14.12 and 14.30%, and 7.37, 7.58, and 7.59% respectively. NFE was significantly (P<0.05) higher in diet A than B and C. Haemoglobin (gldl), packed cell volume (%) and Red blood cell (p/I) were significantly (P<0.05) higher in diets B and C than A; and the values were 9.00, 10.05, and 10.20 (p/I); 26.75, 30.00 and 31.00 (%) and 9.00, 10.80 and 11.00 x 106 (i/l) respectively. White blood cell was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the group fed diet C than those on diets A and B. the values were 1.20, 1.50 and 2.00 x iø (liil). Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the group fed diet A than those on diet B. Serum glutamic oxalo-acetate transaminase SGOT (g/dl) values of 62.00, 63.00 and 82.00 was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the group on diet C than those on diets A and B. The haematological and biochemical indices of rams fed maggot-upgraded poultry droppings were within the range recommended fr sheep. Iherelore, the incorporation of MUPD up to 30% in the diets of sheep did not constitute health hazards to the animals. Further studies, however should be carried out to evaluate growth performance of the animals and optimal inclusion level of MUPD for sheep.