Abstract

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.