Effects of Substitution of Noug Seed Cake with Brugmansia suaveolens Brecht leaf on Growth Performance, Hematological and Serum Biochemical Profiles of Bonga Sheep under cooperative Management

Abstract

This experiment aimed to investigate the effects of substitution of noug seed cake (NSC) with Brugmansia suaveolens Brecht (BSB) for on growth performance, hematological and serum biochemical profiles of Bonga sheep under cooperative management. Twenty-five yearling Bonga Lambs with average initial body weight of 30.34±0.16 kg were assigned to treatments in a randomized complete block design. Animals were fed natural pasture ad libitum and wheat bran with different proportions of noug seed cake and (BSB): T1 = 100% (BSB); T2 = 75%BSB + 25%NSC; T3 = 50%BSB + 50%NSC; T4 = 25%BSB + 75% NSC and T5 = 100%NSC. A 10-day digestibility and 90-day growth experiment was conducted. Data were recorded and subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) following the GLM procedures in SAS version 9.3. Final body weight, average daily weight gain and average daily feed intake were significantly (p<0.05) higher in rams fed on T3 compared to other treatment groups. Except acid detergent fiber (ADF), daily dry matter (DM) and nutrient intake were significantly (p<0.05) affected by different treatment level. Rams fed T3 diet showed significantly higher (p<0.05) values in terms of crude protein (CP) and organic matter (OM) intake. The apparent digestibility of DM, OM, CP and NDF were significantly (p<0.05) different among treatments. The CP, OM and DM digestibility for T3 and T4 diets were higher (p<0.05) compared to other treatment groups. Substitution of NSC by BSB does not have a significant (p>0.05) effect on hematological and serum clinical biochemistry except red blood cell (RBC). Significantly (p<0.05) higher RBC was recorded from T3 compared to other treatment groups. Substitution of NSC by BSB up to 50 % resulted in increased nutrient intake and growth performance. Furthermore, partial budget analysis indicated positive economic importance while substitution of BSB with NSC. Therefore, BSB can be used to replace NSC up to 50% to improve feed intake and productivity of Bonga sheep without posing negative effect on hematological parameters and serum biochemistry.