Author(s)

Hippolyte Watsop Mekuiko, Fernand Tendonkeng^*, Ferdinand Ngoula, Emile Miegoue, Jules Lemoufouet, Bienvenu Fogang Zogang, Zack Kambale Muhindo, Albert Chounna, Mama Mouchili, Etienne Pamo Tedonkeng

Department of Animal Productions, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon.

The study of the effect of added quantity of the essential oil of Callistemon viminalis on the in vivo digestibility of Pennisetum clandestinum and some biochemical parameters on the West African Dwarf goat was conducted with nine old West African Dwarf goats. After the adaptation period, each animal received 900 and 100 g/day of Pennisetum clandestinum hay and concentrate respectively, associated with 0, 100 or 200 mg essential oil/kg of DM. The samples of 100 g of each ration, faeces and 10 ml of urine were collected and analyzed for chemical composition and the evaluation of ingestion and digestibility. Also blood samples were obtained from jugular vein of all goats after in vivo digestibility test for the dosage of biochemical parameters. The results of this study show that the ingestion of dry matter, organic matter and the fibers were significantly (p < 0.05) higher on the goat with the ration FPc + HECv200. The digestibilities of these same components were equally higher with the ration FPc + HECv200 (71.00% and 69.00% respectively for the dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM)). Retained (5.64 g/j) and digested (51.33) nitrogen were significantly (p < 0.05) higher with the ration FPc + HECv200. The values of blood metabolites studied increased significantly (p < 0.05) with added quantity of essential oil in the rations, except for albumin, globulin, glucose and the low-density lipoprotein (LDL). In general, the incorporation of essential oils of Callistemon viminalis in the ration improved ingestion, digestibility and biochemical parameters on the West African Dwarf goat.

Hay, Digestibility, Callistemon viminalis, Essential Oil, Biochemical Parameters

Mekuiko, H. , Tendonkeng, F. , Ngoula, F. , Miegoue, E. , Lemoufouet, J. , Zogang, B. , Muhindo, Z. , Chounna, A. , Mouchili, M. and Tedonkeng, E. (2018) Effect of Added Quantity of the Callistemon viminalis Essential Oil on the in Vivo Digestibility of Pennisetum clandestinum Hay and Some Biochemical Parameters on the West African Dwarf Goat. Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Environment, 7, 81-93. doi: 10.4236/jacen.2018.72008.