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Haematological
characteristics and performance of West African Dwarf Goats
fed crude oil contaminated forage
Ebiegberi M. Ngodigha
Department
of Fisheries/Livestock Production Technology, Niger Delta
University, Wilberforce Island, P.M.B. 071, Yenagoa, Bayelsa
State, Nigeria.
E-mail:
m_ngodighaa@yahoo.co.uk. Tel: +234 8033413211
Accepted
15 January, 2009 |
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The effects of feeding crude petroleum contaminated forage on
haematological characteristics and performance of 36 young
West African Dwarf (WAD) goats was investigated in order to
simulate the impact of real crude oil spillage on livestock
and game. Graded levels (0.0, 1.5 and 3.0 g per kg forage)
of stabilized “Bonny Light” crude oil was incorporated into
predetermined quantities of a grass legume silage and fed to
the animals. Results showed that blood cell profile was
drastically altered with packed cell volume (PCV), granular
leucocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils)
increasing linearly (p<0.05) and the lymphocytes and
monocytes reducing linearly (p<0.05) as crude oil ingestion
increased. Feed intake, feed conversion efficiency and final
body weight decreased linearly (p<0.05) as the level of
crude oil contamination increased. Signs of ill-health and
high mortality were observed in the crude oil contaminated
diets. It was concluded that crude oil administered at
levels of 1.5 and 3.0 g per kg forage to young WAD goats
adversely affected blood cell profile, performance and
survival rates.
Key
words:
Crude oil, forage, goat, haematology, performance. |
