EFFECTS OF PARTIALLY REPLACING RICE STRAW WITH BROWSE PLANTS ON THE HAEMATOLOGY AND SERUM METABOLITES OF DJALLONKE SHEEP

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of browse plants within the savanna zone of Ghana with varying levels of condensed tannin on the haematology and serum metabolites of Djallonke sheep. Eight rams with an average weight of 13.9±1.5kg were randomly assigned to three treatments with a control in a cross over design. The treatments were T0 (60% straw+40% Albizia lebbeck), T1 (60% straw+40% Ceiba pentandra), T2 (60% straw+40% Gmelina arborea) and T3 (60% straw+40% Senna siamea). There was no significance difference (P>0.05) among the treatments for the haematology except for the eosinophil counts. Rams on T1 obtained the highest level of eosinophil with T0 recording the least. The Hb content was in the range of 7.75-8.57 with rams on T3 recording the highest. The highest PCV content was recorded in T3 (25.75%) and the least in T1 (23.25%). Similarly, no significant difference (P>0.05) was reported among the treatments for the serum metabolites. The total protein was in the range of 72.4-77.6 with the highest reported in rams on T3. Plasma urea was in the range of 8.26-12.45 with the highest reported in T0 and the least in T1. The study revealed that the browse plants could be used as supplement to small ruminants without any detrimental effect.