Assessing the nutritional status of four indigenous breeds of cattle using some blood metabolites in Nigeria

Data on some blood metabolites from five bulls each of Bunaji, Rahaji, Sokoto Gudali and Azawak breeds of cattle were collected. They were fed poultry litter in a concentrate mixture for 90 days and their nutritional status ascertained from the serum metabolic profile. Result showed that the metabolisable energy and crude protein composition of the diet were within the optimum values required for beef cattle. Significant (P<0.05) difference existed between the breeds for creatitnine values. It was highest for Bunaji at the beginning of the experiment, Bunaji and Sokoto Gudali had similar values at the middle. There also significant (P<0.05) difference observed between the breeds in terms of total protein even though it later decline in all the breeds at the middle and slightly went up at the end of the trial. Blood urea nitrogen concentration was significantly (P<0.05) different across the time of collection between the breeds. It slightly declined at the middle and sharply increased at the end for all the breeds. Similarly, the result showed that there was significant (P<0.05) difference in the values obtained for blood glucose. SokotAo Gudali recorded the least value for blood glucose from the beginning to the end of the study. Albumin was only significantly (P<0.05) different at the beginning of the study. In conclusion, the results showed that in general metabolic profiling studies in these breeds of cattle did not identify any clear nutritional constraints to productivity. It can be said with certainty, from the glucose, albumin and urea results, that dietary energy and protein were not limiting. Key words: Albumin, Bulls, Glucose, Poultry litter, Total protei