20 СЕЛСКОСТОПАНСКА АКАДЕМИЯ ● ЖИВОТНОВЪДНИ НАУКИ, LVII, 1/2020 Nutritional and Phytogenic Properties of Soursop (Annona muricata) Leaf Meal on the Productive and Physiological Performances of West African Dwarf Goats *Peter-Damian Chukwunomso Jiwuba, Lilian Nonye Azodo and Chinenye Uzoma Department of Animal Production Technology, Federal College of Agriculture, P.M.B.7008 – Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. *Corresponding author: Е-mail address: [email protected] Citation: Jiwuba, P. C., Azodo, L. N., & Uzoma, C. (2020). Nutritional and Phytogenic Properties of Soursop (Annona muricata) leaf Meal on the Productive and Physiological Performances of West African Dwarf Goats. Zhivotnovadni Nauki, 57(1), 20-28 (Bg). Abstract The study aimed to examine the effect of soursop (Annona muricata) leaf meal (AMLM) diets on productive and physiological characteristics of West African dwarf (WAD) goats. Thirty six bucks were randomly divided into four experimental groups of nine animals each. Each group was assigned to one of the experimental diets formulated to contain AMLM at 0% (control), 15%, 30% and 45% for 82 days in a completely randomized design (CRD). The proximate composition of the experimental diets ranges from 87.32–89.19% dry matter (DM), 14.72–15.59% crude protein (CP), 27.18–29.30% crude fibre (CF), 9.48–13.62% ash, 2.00–2.31% ether extract (EE), 26.81–32.80% nitrogen free ex- tract (NFE) and 3.56–3.73 MJ/kg gross energy (GE). The chemical analysis of the AMLM revealed 90.91% DM, 20.39% CP, 16.20% CF, 10.62% ash, 4.31% EE, 39.39% NFE and 3.93 MJ/kg GE. The results on intake and body weight changes showed significant (P < 0.05) improvement with the inclu- sion of AMLM in the diets for final body weight, daily weight gain, daily feed intake, forage dry mat- ter intake, supplement dry matter intake, total dry matter intake and feed conversion ratio. AMLM at 45% inclusion produced the best (P < 0.05) packed cell volume and lymphocyte concentration in comparison to other treatments. AMLM at 15, 30 and 45% resulted to improved red blood cells, mean cell haemoglobin concentration, and white blood cells concentration when compared with the control. Sodium and chloride were however best (P < 0.05) at 15, 30 and 45% supplementations. The results indicated that AMLM enhanced body weight gain, dry matter intake, haemopoiesis and health status of the WAD goats and therefore should be incorporated into goat feeding programme to enhance bet- ter productivity. Key words: body weight changes, dry matter intake, phytobiotics, blood profile, small ruminant Introduction the most prolific of all the domesticated rumi- nants under tropical and subtropical conditions, Goat is one of the domestic livestock of high with high conception rate, early breeding age, inestimable value in developed and developing high birth weight, high weaning weight, moder- countries. Its production has witnessed progres- ate kid survival rate, short gestation length, early sive growth in recent years. In most tropical maturity and moderate kidding interval. How- countries, goats are non-seasonal breeders and ever, the West African dwarf (WAD) goat is the СЕЛСКОСТОПАНСКА АКАДЕМИЯ ● ЖИВОТНОВЪДНИ НАУКИ, LVII, 1/2020 21 most adaptable breed of small ruminants found cytotoxic activity, which tend to be more toxic to in rain forest and derived savanna zones where cancer and tumor cells than to normal cells (Dai they are raised under smallholder management et al., 2011). However, McLaughling (2008) re- system. In eastern part of Nigeria, WAD goats ported that selective cytotoxicity of A. muricata are vital in marriages, religious rites, good me- may be attributed to the higher ATP demand of dium of establishing friendship, common stake cancer cells with respect to normal cells. Not- used as an object of fine for restoration of peace withstanding, these properties, A. muricata leaf in communities and a ready source of family in- meal has not gained prominence as feedstuff for come. goats, especially as a component of WAD goat Nevertheless, poor quality diets challenges diet. The study was therefore, aimed at to evalu- WAD goats in expressing their full potential. This ate the growth performance and blood profile of may be due to high cost of conventional concen- WAD goats fed graded levels of A. muricata leaf trate, seasonal variations and little knowledge meal in their diets with a view of ascertaining about efficient use of unconventional resources its nutritional and phytogenic properties for en- (Jiwuba and Ogbuewu, 2019) by goat farmers. hanced goat production. Single possible means of improving the diets of goats is through formulation of supplemental di- ets with leaf meals from plants with phytogen- Materials and methods ic properties. One of such plants with reported (Coria-Téllez et al., 2016) phytogenic properties The experiment was carried out at the Rabbit is soursop (Annona muricata). Jiwuba and Ka- Unit, Federal College of Agriculture – Ishiagu, durumba (2019) attributed the recent attention Ebonyi state, Nigeria. The College is located at on the utilization of phytogenic plant materi- about three kilometers (3km) away from Ishiagu als in animal nutrition to their growth promot- main town. The College is situated at latitude ing and medicinal properties. Soursop (Annona 5.56 °N and longitude 7.31 °E, with an average muricata), belongs to the genus Annona, family rainfall of 1653 mm and a prevailing tempera- Annonaceae and order Magnoliales and known ture condition of 28.50 °C and relative humidity by diverse names like Graviola (Portuguese), of about 80%. Sawamsop (Igbos), Ebo (Yorubas) and Fasadarur The experimental material Annona muri- (Hausas). A. muricata is a tropical plant usually cata leaves were sourced and harvested within cultivated for its nutritious and sour tasty fruit Ishiagu environ and air dried for some days to a and serve as medicinal plant for the treatment moisture content of about 10–15%. Other feed ingre- of various ailments. The nutritional assay of A. dients were procured from Farm associate – Enugu, muricata revealed high vitamin B and C, phos- Enugu State, Nigeria. Fresh, succulent, greenish phorus, iron and calcium contents (Enweani et non-over matured Annona muricata leaves were al., 2004). Earlier reports (Badrie and Schauss, harvested to ensure lower value of lignin and 2009; Ezuruike and Prieto, 2014; Coria-Téllez, et higher nutrient availability. The leaves were air al., 2016) enumerated the value of A. muricata dried in batches before passing through a 10 mm leaves in the treatment of hypertension, diabe- hammer mill and further used in the formulation tes, parasites, cancer, kidney disorders, cold, flu, of the experimental diets. Four diets T1, T2, T3, asthma, malaria, digestive problems, microbial and T4, were formulated. The Annona muricata and worm infestation, inflammations, pains and leaf meal (AMLM) was included at the levels of respiratory disorders. Studies have shown that A. 0%, 15%, 30% and 45% for T1, T2, T3, and T4, muricata leaves (Matsushige et al., 2011; Ragasa respectively as presented in Table 1. et al., 2012; Vijayameena et al., 2013) contain Thirty-six (36) intact WAD bucks of about reasonable amount of alkaloid, acetogenins, phe- 8–10 months of age and averaging 7.96 kg in nols, vitamins and carotenoids. The popularity weight were selected from the College flock for of A. muricata may be attributed to its selective this experiment. The goats were randomly divided 22 СЕЛСКОСТОПАНСКА АКАДЕМИЯ ● ЖИВОТНОВЪДНИ НАУКИ, LVII, 1/2020 Table 1. Composition of the experimental diets Dietary levels Ingredients T1 (0%) T2 (15%) T3 (30%) T4 (45%) Annona murica leaf meal 0.00 15.00 30.00 45.00 Cassava peel 36.00 36.00 36.00 36.00 Wheat offal 18.00 13.00 10.00 6.00 Brewer’s dried grain 23.30 17.30 11.30 5.30 Palm kernel cake 20.00 16.00 10.00 5.00 Bone meal 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 Salt 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 Premix 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.20 Total 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 into four groups of nine animals each. The groups collection. Serum biochemistry (Total Protein, were randomly assigned the four experimental di- Creatinine, Aspartate aminotransferase, Alanine ets (T1, T2, T3, and T4) in a completely randomized aminotransferase and Alkaline phosphatase) and design (CRD) pattern. The animals were housed haematological parameters (Packed cell volume, individually in a well-ventilated cement floored Haemoglobin, Red blood cell and White blood pens equipped with feeders and drinkers. Each cell) were measured using Beckman Coulter Ac- animal received a designated treatment diet in T10 Laboratory Haematology Blood Analyzer the morning (8 am) for 82 days. Feed offered was and Bayer DCA 2000 + HbA1c analyzer, respec- based on 4.0% body weight per day; the animals tively. Mean cells haemoglobin (MCH), Mean were in addition fed 1 kg wilted chopped Panicum cell volume (MCV) and mean cell haemoglobin maximum later in the day (4 pm). Regular access concentrations (MCHC) were calculated. The to fresh drinking water was made available. Initial standard flame photometry using Gallenkamp body weights of the animals were taken at the be- analysis were used to determine serum sodium ginning of the feeding trial and weekly thereafter. (Na+) ion, Potassium (K+) ion, Chloride (ion-), Final live weight was obtained by weighing the Phosphorus, and HCO3. goats at the end of the experiment. Daily weight All the sample of feed and test ingredients gain, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio was analyzed for their chemical composition us- were calculated accordingly. ing the method of AOAC (2000). The following Blood samples (10 ml) were drawn from each were determined and analyzed; Dry matter con- animal on the last day of the study.