SERUM ELECTROLYTES AND LIVER ENZYMES OF RED SOKOTO BUCK KIDS SUPPLEMENTED WITH SELECTED BROWSE PODS IN A SEMI-ARID ENVIRONMENT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.8614Keywords:
Buck kids, , Browse pods, Serum electrolytes, Semi-Arid zoneAbstract
The study was conducted to evaluate the influence of supplementation of four selected browse pods on serum electrolytes and liver enzymes of twenty (20) growing Red Sokoto buck kids (GRSBK). The animals were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments: T1 (control), T2 ( Faidherbia albida), T3 (Vachellia tortilis), T4 (Acacia nilotica) and T5 (Piliostigma reticulatum) in a completely randomized design (CRD) for 12 weeks (84 days’). The results revealed no significant differences (P>0.05) across the treatments for all the serum electrolytes concentrations analyzed such as Chloride (Cl), Potassium (K) and Sodium (Na). Similarly, no significant differences (P>0.05) were recorded on the liver enzymes such as Alkaline Phosphate (ALP), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate aminotransferase (AST). The study, therefore, concluded that the browse pods are fit and safe to be used as dry season supplements for growing red sokoto buck kids to curb seasonal fluctuations in productivity.