ABSTRACT:

The study examined the effects of graded levels of vitamin E on growth performance, thyroid hormones, haematology and biochemical indices of Sokoto red goats. The objective therefore was to evaluate the effects of vitamin E on some growth morphometric measurement, thyroid hormones and haemato-biochemical indices of Sokoto red goats. A total of thirty growing Sokoto red goats of mixed sexes with an average weight of 16kg were used for the experiment. The animals were administered long acting Oxytetracycline against cold and pneumonia and ivermectin for endo- and ectoparasite control within the two weeks quarantine period before the commencement of the experiment. The animals were later allotted into five treatments (A, B, C, D, and E) with two replicates made up of three animals per replicate after they were balanced for body weight. It follows a completely randomized design. They were allowed access to feed and forages (Panicum maximum and Pennisetum purpureum), water was provided ad-libitum. The duration of the experiment was 3months. Daily feed offered and refusals were recorded along with body weights/ morphometric measurements which were taken forthnightly. Blood samples were collected into ethylene diamine tetracetic acid (EDTA) coated and plain bottles for haematology/ serum assay respectively by jugular venipuncture at the end of the experiment.The result of the study showed that vitamin E supplementation significantly (p<0.05) affected the morphometric measurements, thyroid hormones and blood indices. The rectal temperature (though within the standard temperature range for goats), red cell distribution width standard deviation (RDW-SD), red cell distribution width coefficient of variance (RDW-CV), mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) were not significantly affected. There were significant (p<0.05) reduction in ear length, scrotal circumference/length, packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC), creatinine, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and sodium. All other parameters significantly increased(p<0.05) with the supplementation of vitamin E. Vitamin E significantly increased thyroid hormone production as well as most of the blood parameters. It was concluded that the optimum performance was obtained with the 6g vitamin E per kg of feed inclusion.