Abstract
The blood profile of White Fulani calves fed ensiled Rauvolfia vomitoria (RV) leaves and Brewers’ Spent Grains (BSG) based diet was assessed. Nine (9) Fulani calves, aged between 4 – 8 weeks, were randomly assigned to 3 treatment groups of three animals per replicate, such that there was a control diet (Treatment 1) and two treatment diets (Treatment 2 and Treatment 3). Based on body weight, Treatment 1 (control) was fed 3% concentrate, 0% silage, and 4% forage; Treatment 2 was fed 3% silage and 4% forage; and Treatment 3 was fed 4% silage and 3% forage. The experiment was carried out using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and lasted for 56 days. Data were obtained on haematological (white blood cell, red blood cell, packed cell volume, haemoglobin, neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets, MCH, MCV, MCHC, eosinophils, monocytes and basophils) and serum biochemical indices (urea, creatinine, total protein, ALT, ALP, AST, glucose and total cholesterol) of the calves. The haematological indices of calves fed RV/BSG-based diets were similar to those on the control diet, except for MCHC of calves on T3 (34.08g/dl), which was significantly (p<0.05) higher. The effect on the haematology also showed that feeding the silage at 4% of the calves’ body weight can boost the haemoglobin concentration of the red blood cell. The highest values for Alanine Aminotransferase (43.50 iu/L), Aspartate Aminotransferase (83.33 iu/L) and Alkaline Phosphatase (152.34 iu/L) were obtained for the blood of calves fed T3 diet. The serum biochemistry indices revealed that the calves fed with silage at 3% of their body weight yielded the lowest creatinine concentration in the serum, but within the range for healthy cattle. The findings of this study proved that feeding calves with brewers' spent grains and Rauvolfia vomitoria did not elicit any adverse effects on the calves and proved that it can be utilized as a feed resource.