Agriculture Journal: Volume-9, Issue-9, September, 2023

Abstract- The objective was to investigate haematological and serum biochemical parameters of four Nigerian breeds of cattle grazed and supplemented with palm kernel cake. Twenty four yearlings were used for this study. Experiment was a 2×4 factorial laid in a completely randomized design. Animals were divided into two groups, one group fed experimental diet and also grazed while the other only grazed. At the end of eight weeks feeding trial, four animals of different breeds were from each group making a total of eight animals selected. Blood samples were collected from these animals via jugular vein puncture using sterilized disposable syringe. Parameters determined were red blood cell, white blood cell, pack cell volume, haemoglobulin, mean corpuscular haemoglobulin, mean corpuscular haemoglobulin concentration, mean corpuscular valve, total protein, globulin, creatinine, albumin, cholesterol, urea, amino transferase and alanine transferase. The data collected were analyzed using IBM SPSS (2011). Results revealed that concentrate and grazing and grazing alone had effect (p<0.05) with the following values respectively on Hb (9.29,7.05), WBC (9.29,5.20), RBC (6.40,5.03), PCV (25.91,18.01), MCH (13.81,14.15), MCHC (35.00,34.84) and PLT (590.25,501.25) of breeds but had no effect on MCV (40.10,22.56) of breeds (p>0.05) though parameters were within normal range for cattle. Similarly, concentrate and grazing, and grazing alone had effect (p<0.05) on serum biochemical profile with the following values respectively total protein (7.85,7.43), albumin (4.54,2.81) total cholesterol (145.00,145.38), urea (38.75,3919) and alanine transferase (69.55,61.83) but had no effect (p>0.05) on creatinine (0.96,1.04), globulin (2.91,3.62) and aspartate aminotransferase (68.43,75.88) although all values were still within normal range for cattle. It is therefore concluded that blood biochemical parameters and haematology were within range in all treatments indicating that diet did not exert any deleterious effect. Animals that fed on concentrate however recorded higher values for most parameters. Therefore, the supplementation of Cattle diet with PKC is advisable.

Abstract- The study examined the effect of chicken strain (Isa brown, Lohmann brown, Isa white and Noiler) on the proximate composition of eggs laid by 22-weeks old hens. Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was used to carry out the study. The Gravimetric method, Furnace Incineration Gravimetric method, Bligh Dryer method, Kjeldahl method, AOAC 2019 method and Arithmetic Difference method were used to determine the Moisture content, Ash content, Fat content, Protein content, Crude fiber and Carbohydrate content of the egg samples, respectively. The mean values of the proximate composition of the four strains (Isa brown, Lohmann brown, Isa white and Noiler) of chicken studied are: Crude fiber- 0.47%, 0.41%, 0.41%, 0.44%; Moisture content- 75.08%, 75.14%, 76.06%, 76.40%; Ash content- 0.16%, 0.40%, 0.49%, 0.42%; Protein content- 12.56%, 12.51%, 11.74%, 11.03%; Carbohydrate content- 1.72%, 0.94%, 0.57%, 1.51% and Fat content- 10.01%, 10.61%, 10.74%, 10.20% respectively. The study invariably revealed that the eggs of Isa brown hens have more protein, carbohydrate and crude fiber contents. Eggs of Isa white hens contain significantly more fat and ash contents compared to those of Isa brown, Lohmann brown and Noiler hens. Noiler eggs have the highest moisture content. In conclusion, from a nutritional point of view, eggs of Isa brown strain are healthier because they contain less amount of fat and higher percentage of protein.