The Effect of Dietary Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) Seed on Growth and Some Blood Parameters of Desert Goats

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in the Faculty of Animal Production, University of Khartoum, at Shambat during period from 3rd July (2002) to 20th August (2002) for 6 weeks. The study aims to examine the effect of the dietary C. cajan on the growth of desert goat kids, chemical blood serum cholesterol, calcium (Ca), inorganic phosphorus (i.P), glucose, total protein, iron (Fe) and blood haemoglobin (Hb). The sample taken in this experiment was twenty four male kids of ages ranging from 3.5 – 4 months and the animal average weight (10.27 + 0.69 kg), such sample was divided into four equal groups of six animals each. The four groups were provided with basic ration consisting of sorghum grain, wheat bran and groundnut cake that supply male kids with all nutrients. The ration of isolcaloric and isonitrogenous NRC (1981) was almost of the same results. In this experiment four treatments of C. cajan were added to the basic ration with percentage of (0, 3, 6 and 9%) in group A, B, C and D. Results showed that there was a significant effect (P< 0.05) on growth and consumed feed when using C. cajan, the group who was provided with the ration containing 9% of C. cajan had a significant increase in the growth rate. In addition, such group had the larger amount of the consumed feed as well as the best feed conversion ratio (FCR). Chemical blood measurements showed that there is ascending increase in blood indices such as (Hb), the group who was fed with the ration containing 9% of C. cajan scored the significant increase, however, higher level of serum cholesterol observed on animal fed 6% C. cajan, but serum total protein, glucose, Ca, i.P and Fe were not affected by C. cajan. Feeding 9% of C. cajan has no adverse effect on animal health and no bloat symptoms.