P.C. Jiwuba1*, W.N. Amaduronye2, R.C. Akazue1

1Department of Animal Production Technology, Federal College of Agriculture, P.M.B. 7008, Ishiagu,
Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
2Department of Animal Breeding and Physiology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria

(Manuscript received 21 June 2020; accepted for publication 2 October 2020)

Abstract. West African Dwarf (WAD) goat plays an important socio-economic role, hence the effect of 82 days of feeding Gmelina leaf meal (GLM) diets on feed intake, body weight change and blood indices of WAD goats were investigated. A total of 36 WAD goats averaging 9.04 kg in weight were randomly divided into four groups of nine goats each with three goats constituting a replicate. The groups were randomly assigned four experimental diets (T1, T2, T3, and T4, containing GLM at 0%, 12%, 24% and 36%, respectively) in a completely randomized design. Results indicated significant (p<0.05) improvement for body weights and feed conversion ratio for T2, T3, and T4. There was significant difference (p<0.05) for all the haematological parameters except packed cell volume (PCV). White blood cells (WBC) increased in their number (p<0.05) with incremental levels of GLM in the diets. All the serum biochemical indices showed significant (p<0.05) difference with glucose and cholesterol concentration reduced (p<0.05) with incremental levels of GLM. It could be concluded that GLM can be included in the diets of goats up to 36% without deleterious effects on the productive and physiological indices of WAD goats.