Effect of Levels of Feeding and Saccharomyces Cerevisiae on Some Haematological and Biochemical Indices in West African Dwarf Sheep

Authors:
  • AAAugustine Ogbonna Ani
    Augustine Ogbonna Ani
  • COChika Ethelbert Oyeagu
    Chika Ethelbert Oyeagu
  • EAEunice Amaka Akuru
    Eunice Amaka Akuru
  • NINnanna Ephraim Ikeh
    Nnanna Ephraim Ikeh
  • IEIfeyinwa Eunice Ezemagu
    Ifeyinwa Eunice Ezemagu
  • VUValentine Chidozie Udeh
    Valentine Chidozie Udeh
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Abstract
| The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary inclusion of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on haematology, biochemical indices and methane emission by West African dwarf sheep. Forty eight lambs (24 males and 24 females) were distributed in a complete randomized 2 × 3 factorial design with high roughage and high concentrate diets supplemented with three levels of yeast (0, 0.75 and 1.5 g of Saccharomyces cerevisiae per kg of the basal diets). Sheep fed the high concentrate and high roughage diets supplemented with 0.75 g and 1.5 g of Saccharomyces cerevisiae per kg of the basal diet had higher (p < 0.05) monocyte value than sheep fed the other diets. The white blood cell count and total protein values for sheep fed high concentrate diets supplemented with 0.75 g and 1.5 g of Saccharomyces cerevisiae per kg of the basal diet were higher (p < 0.05) than those of sheep fed the other treatment diets. The group of sheep fed the high concentrate and high roughage diets without supplementary S. cerevisiae had higher (p < 0.05) calcium value than sheep fed the other diets. Methane emission values for sheep fed high roughage diet without S. cerevisiae and high roughage diet with 0.75 g of S. cerevisiae per kg of diet were higher (p < 0.05) than those of sheep fed other diets. Results suggested that S. cerevisiae can be added into high concentrate diet at 0.75 g per kg of the diet for optimum performance of West African dwarf sheep.