Performance, blood profile, rumen characteristics, and anthelminthic effects of Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal concentrate diets on West African Dwarf sheep

Sheep production in tropical regions of Africa is often hampered by a high seasonal variability of forage biomass availability with low protein concentration, in meeting their maintenance and production requirements. Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal as an excellent drought resistance forage supplement for ruminants was evaluated in a 105-day experiment with sixteen (16) healthy yearling West African Dwarf (WAD) rams with a weight range of 13.94 and 14.98 kg in a completely randomised design, to determine its effects on performance, haematology, serum biochemical indices, faecal egg count and rumen characteristics. Animals were assigned to four treatment groups, each with four replicates, containing 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal (LLLM) in a concentrated diet. A basal diet of Panicum maximum and water was provided ad libitum. Results showed that growth rates improved with the inclusion level of LLLM in the diets and ranged from 33.90 to 43.33 g/day in WAD sheep fed a 5% and 15% LLLM concentrate diet, respectively. The haematological variables varied (p < 0.05) across treatments. Animals fed 10% LLLM had the highest (p < 0.05) packed cell volume and red blood cell count (RBC). Haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) increased (p < 0.05) in sheep fed 10 and 15% LLLM. The white blood cell count (WBC) increased (p < 0.05) while mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) decreased (p < 0.05) with higher LLLM inclusion levels. Variations were also observed in the serum biochemical indices. Total protein, albumin, globulin and creatinine increased (p < 0.05) in LLLM diet-fed sheep. Zero % LLLM-fed sheep had the highest value for aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p < 0.05). Cholesterol concentration decreased (p < 0.05) with elevated LLLM inclusion. The rumen pH increased (p < 0.05) while microbial count decreased (p < 0.05) with LLLM inclusion in the diets. Ammonia nitrogen was highest (p < 0.05) in animals fed 15% LLLM. Strongyloides papillosus were observed in the faecal egg count which reduced (p < 0.05) with the level of LLLM in the diet. The study concluded that feeding LLLM concentrate diet at 15% inclusion improved sheep feeding and could serve as an anthelminthic as well as a key entry point to sustainable intensification, increasing food security, and decreasing greenhouse emission intensities.