Changes in Some Haematological Parameters of Pubertal Yankasa Rams ‎Fed Graded Levels of Dietary Protein Using Cotton Seed and Palm Kernel ‎Cake

The effects of graded levels of dietary protein on some haematological parameters in pubertal Yankasa rams were studied. They were randomly divided into three treatment groups (A, B and C). Groups A, B and C received 10%, 15% and 20% crude protein respectively. All rams were fed a basal diet of hay (Digitaria spp) ad-libitum and given a supplement ration of concentrate mixture at 2% body weight/day. Blood was collected once weekly via jugular venepuncture into heparinised test-tubes, and transported to the laboratory for determination of red blood cell counts, packed cell volume, white blood cell counts and total protein for twelve weeks. The overall mean red blood cell values obtained were 4.2 ± 0.1 ×106 µl, 5.2 ± 0.1 106 µl and 5.06 ± 0.1 ×106 µl, for groups A, B and C respectively. The difference between values obtained for groups B and C were not significantly different (P > 0.05). Mean packed cell volumes obtained in this study revealed that rams fed 15% crude protein had significantly (P < 0.05) higher values (31.3 ± 0.9%) than those fed 10% (25.9± 0.7%) but similar to those fed 20% (30.33 ± 0.56%) crude protein. There were no significant (P > 0.05) differences in mean white blood cell counts and total protein concentrations between all groups of animals fed 10% CP. Feeding rams diets containing 15 % CP (cotton seed cake and palm kernel cake) gave better values in terms of packed cell volume and red blood cell counts, than feeding diets containing 10% and 20% C.P. While graded levels of dietary protein was shown to affect packed cell volume and total protein concentration, it had no significant effect on red blood cell and white blood cell counts.