Indian Journal of Animal Research

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Research Article

Indian Journal of Animal Research, volume 55 issue 2 (february 2021) : 180-184

The Effect of Groundnut Shells Supplementation on Selected Biochemical Parameters of Confined Indigenous Cattle during Winter Season in the North West Province of South Africa

B.G. Mokolopi J.W. Oguttu1,*, C.A. Mbajiorgu1
1Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, College of Agriculture and Environmental Services, University of South Africa, Science Campus, Private Bag X6, Florida 1710, South Africa.
Cite article:- Oguttu J.W. Mokolopi B.G., Mbajiorgu C.A. (2020). The Effect of Groundnut Shells Supplementation on Selected Biochemical Parameters of Confined Indigenous Cattle during Winter Season in the North West Province of South Africa . Indian Journal of Animal Research. 55(2): 180-184. doi: 10.18805/ijar.B-1204.

ABSTRACT

Background: The use of groundnut shells (GNS) in animal feeding is a common practice in tropical countries and most researchers have evaluated the nutritive values of GNS and their effects on animal performance. They are cheap and widely available in South Africa. However, most communal farmers in Mogosane village lack the knowledge nutritive values of such, and therefore do not use GNS to improve the performance of their cattle. Determination of the nutritional status of cattle is important especially when quantifying the effects of a dietary treatment. Blood metabolite concentrations indicate the animal’s nutritional status and they are commonly assessed in dairy than beef cattle, such that there are no reference values for the blood constituents of indigenous cattle in South Africa, suggesting a need for research in this area.

Methods: An eight-week feeding trial was therefore, conducted to determine effect of different levels of groundnut shells (GNS) on biochemical parameters. Forty cattle were used and were allocated into Groups: A, B, C, D and E with eight animals in each group. Treatment group A was given basal diet and water only. Treatment group B was supplemented with 700 g/kg of GNS, C with 1050 g/kg of GNS, D with 1400 g/kg of GNS and E with 1750 g/kg of GNS. Blood samples were collected into anticoagulant free, allowed to coagulate at room temperature for 24 hours and then centrifuged at 1000 rpm for 10 minutes. The supernatant sera were harvested and stored in a freezer. Samples were collected once a week for eight weeks and were then analysed using Anision-300 Auto-Analyzer system. 

Results: Significant values were observed in urea and lipase in animals receiving 1050g/kg of GNS and were significantly (P<0.05) higher when compared to control group and all other treatment groups, and even for those animals in treatment group E. These significant values found in urea and lipase, on animals receiving 1050 g/kg, confirmed effect of GNS on metabolic functions on animals depending on natural pasture.

INTRODUCTION

The pastures in Mogosane village in North West Province are unable to sustain cattle throughout the year, considering the recurrent droughts reported (Bakunzi et al., 2012) and the fact that cattle from neighbouring villages also rely on the same pastures. The farmers do not supplement their cattle; hence the animals have to depend on the available low-quality roughages during the dry season. This is a problem because the future development of animal agriculture in communal farming areas is dependent on the improvement of animal production practices which include supplementation of the animals during the dry seasons (Mokolopi and Beighle, 2006). Furthermore, the Indigenous breed is exposed to nutritional deficiencies as a result of inadequate grazing and poor-quality pastures, mostly lacking in energy and protein. The low productivity of cattle in these pasture-based extensive grazing systems therefore needs improvement and this entails an evaluation of their nutritional status (Damptey et al., 2014). According to Meena et al., (2008), the livestock mostly dependent on the feeding resources available locally, such as oak leaves and unclassified grasses in the village grazing land / forest area, to feed their livestock year-round. 
       
There is a need therefore, to supplement animals during winter season in Mogosane village with cheap and readily available crop residues such as GNS to improve the productivity of cattle during that season. They are cheap and widely available in South Africa and according to Directorate of Statistics and Economic Analysis (2013), North West province is amongst the leading provinces in terms of groundnut production. They are considered as waste products which when accumulated in large quantities in a particular area become an environmental hazard (Sim et al., 2012; Zhong et al., 2012). Their utilization as supplemental feeding can minimize the accumulation of the shells in large quantities, at the same time solving the problem of seasonal malnutrition (Lakpini, 2002). The nutritional contribution of GNS has not been evaluated using blood biochemical indices of cattle during dry season in communal grazing.
       
The livestock sector forms an important component of developing countries agricultural economy (Satyanarayan and Jagadeeswary 2010) and plays an important part in rural household socio-economic development (Bairwa et al., 2013). Therefore, feeding livestock on locally available agricultural by products is an alternative promising feeding system to rear ruminants economically, especially on communal farmers.
       
Supplementing the low-quality forages with the available non-convectional feeds has been recommended by several scholars (Aregheore, 2000; Malau-Aduli et al., 2003; Abdulrazak et al., 2014). In the context of Mogosane village GNS are readily available in that region and can be utilized as supplemental feeding.
       
The use of GNS in animal feeding is a common practice in tropical countries (Akinfemi et al., 2012) and most researchers have evaluated the nutritive values of groundnut shells and their effects on animal performance (Aregheore, 2000; Malau-Aduli et al., 2003; Abdulrazak et al., 2014). However, communal farmers in Mogosane village do not make use of GNS to improve the performance of their cattle, hence Abdulrazak et al., (2014) have studied the nutritional content of them and have recommended their potential as livestock feed.
       
It is true that the lignin material is extremely recalcitrant due to its structural features and it needs methods to improve its digestibility (Mosier et al., (2005). Nevertheless, according to (Puri 1984) physical pretreatment, such as ball mining, is highly effective in reducing cellulose crystallinity and combining lime pretreatment with mechanical pretreatment dramatically improves enzymatic digestibility (Falls and Holtzapple 2011). In this case however, GNS milling was the only economical process to be considered using to improve digestibility of lignin, especially because research has been carried out in favor of communal farmers, where mechanical pretreatment is very costly. Blood metabolite concentrations are more accurate than body weights and condition scores in assessing the animal’s nutritional status and they indicate the animal’s nutritional (Pambu-Gollah et al., 2000). Furthermore, according to Mamun et al., (2013) biochemical analyses of blood serum are very useful to get insight in the metabolic and health status of animals. They are commonly assessed in dairy than beef cattle, such that little has been done on the blood constituents of indigenous cattle in South Africa (Ndlovu et al., 2007), suggesting a need for research in this area.
       
Since the health status of cows depending on biochemical profile of blood (Coroian et al., 2017). The aim of this study is therefore to investigate the potential of supplementing GNS on biochemical parameters on cattle during winter season in Mogosane village, North West Province, especially since there is no comprehensive study that has been conducted around this area.

Authors therefore hypothesized that:
• Supplemental dietary groundnut shells have no effect on biochemical parameters of cattle during dry season.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Research site
       
The research was conducted in Mogosane Village (25° 74’S, 25° 59’E; elevation) under the Modiri Molema local Municipality in North West Province. The area is classified as semi-arid, with annual rainfall of less than 700 mm and recurrent droughts. Most rains are received from August to March, with the months of May, June and July being dry and cool. Temperature ranges from 31°C in summer to as little as 3°C in winter.
 
Research procedures
 
Forty cattle were used during this experiment. Animals were randomly divided into five different groups (Group A, B, C, D and E) of eight animals each. The animals were given the basal diet of Blue Buffalo grass, ad libitum with water for 24 hours and were supplemented with GNS.

• Group A: Animals fed Blue Buffalo grass without GNS supplements (control group).
• Group B: Animals fed Blue Buffalo grass with 700 g/kg of feed supplementation.
• Group C: Animals fed Blue Buffalo grass with 1050 g/kg of feed supplementation.
• Group D: Animals fed Blue Buffalo grass with 1400 g/kg of feed supplementation
• Group E: Animals fed Blue Buffalo grass with 1750 g/kg of feed supplementation
       
The experimental animals were kept on the experimental kraals for the duration of the experiment. Supplements were given every day for 8 weeks. The animals were given two weeks to adapt to the experimental feeding regime.
 
Feed intake
 
GNS and Blue Buffalo grass were milled to theoretically improve the digestibility of lignin. Feedstuffs were then weighed daily and offered to animals every day for 8 weeks. Feed refusals from previous day were measured by subtracting the weight of feed refusals from the feed offered and the difference was divided by the total number of cattle in each group.
 
Collection of samples
 
Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein after restraining animals from forty cattle for eight weeks every day in the morning into anticoagulant free tubes, allowed to coagulate at room temperature for 24 hours and then centrifuged at 1000 rpm for 10 minutes. The supernatant sera were harvested and stored in a freezer for later analysis. The tag numbers of the animals and dates were clearly recorded on each blood tubes.
 
Analysis of samples
 
The IDEXX Catalyst Dx* Chemistry Analyzer was used for blood biochemistry testing of serum metabolites to determine concentrations of glucose (GLU), cholesterol (CHOL), globulin (GLOB), albumin (ALB), lipase (LIPA), amylase (AMYL), creatinine (CREA), total protein (TP), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), urea (UREA/BUN) and total bilirubin (TBIL) and were analysed according to the procedure of the manufacturer (IDEXX Laboratories, Inc 2014)
       
Collected GNS were ground to pass through a 2 mm screens to produce GNS meal as described by Tsheole et al., (2017) and were analysed for chemical analysis as described by Mnisi et al., (2017). 
 
Statistical analysis
 
All data obtained were subjected to one-way analysis of variance using the general linear model (GLM) done on SAS (2010). Where there was a significant T-test (P<0.05), Duncan Multiple Range (DMR) test was used to test the significance of differences between means.
 
Compliance with ethical standards
 
During sample collections, animals were handled with care and were properly restrained to avoid injury. The cattle kraals were constructed according to animal welfare standards. Proper care was taken to ensure that animals were not stressed. The animals’ health and welfare were taken into consideration by having animals regularly examined by a qualified Veterinarian appointed to take care of the health of the animals. Animals that were sick were treated by the Veterinarian. The ethical clearance certificate was granted by College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES) Ethics Committee for Animal Health, University of South Africa, before the commencement of the study.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Selected biochemical parameters found in cattle fed different levels of GNS are shown in Table 1. Most of measured parameters were within the reference values (Table 2), except for GLU levels which were below the reference value of 3.1-4.7 mmol/L (Yokus and Cakir, 2006) and AMYL levels which were above the reference value of 0-28 U/L (IDEXX laboratory instruction manual, 2014).
 

Table 1: Eight week means of blood metabolites of cattle supplemented with groundnut shells with their SEMs and P values.


 

Table 2: Normal range values for biochemical parameters in cattle and their SI Units.


       
There were no significant values reported in the selected biochemical parameters except for BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) and LIPA. The animals in the control diet (Group A), which were receiving only the basal diet of Blue Buffalo grass had higher values for all biochemical parameters measured when compared to the animals receiving highest value (1750 g/kg) of GNS in this experiment.
       
The BUN was higher in Group C compared with all other groups and was significantly (P=0.05) higher in Group C compared with the control group and with Group E. This could be a problem to those animals fed with 1050 g/kg of feed supplementation because if the levels of BUN are higher, this could simple mean that either the kidneys failed to remove BUN out of the body, by flushing it out through urine. This means that supplementing cattle diets with concentrations of GNS of 1050g/kg or more would be ineffective or even detrimental.
       
However, the results reported here are in the same range with the ones reported by Damptey et al., (2014, with the value of 6.38 mmol/L, in animals which were housed in an open kraal and allowed to graze mainly on natural grazing, where Panicum maximum, Sporobolus pyramidalis and Vertiveria fulvibarbis generally constituted the dominant grass in the that area.
       
The LIPA was higher in Group C compared with all other groups and was significantly (P<0.05) higher than those in Group E. This could be because of the protein found in the very small peanuts that are often not captured with larger nuts in the process of that separates the shells from the nuts and are thus left with the shells.
       
Non-significant (P>0.05) differences among other groups for biochemical parameters in serum may due to the competition levels of GNS supplementation reducing availability of other blood metabolites. However, glucose is regarded as the principal source of energy for the life processes of the mammalian cell (Saleh et al., 2011) and inadequate availability of utilizable glucose thus reduces the hypothalamic release of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH), leading to a decrease in LH release. Besides this could eventually delay or prevent ovulation Hess et al., (2005).
       
Therefore, the results obtained may be beneficial in demonstrating the effects of GNS with no negative effects on some biochemical parameters on cattle grazing communal pastures. And since biochemical analyses of blood serum are very useful to get an insight in the metabolic and health status of animals (Ježek et al., 2006), non-significant effect of GNS on serum biochemistry in most of parameters in this research, therefore suggest that the GNS supplements did not affect on the enhancement or the reduction of synthesis of protein and fat metabolism in animals.
           
In animals, a large number of factors such as species, type or race, sex, age, nutritional and health status, as well as seasonal and physiological variations such as those in pregnancy and lactation can affect serum chemistry and mineral levels (Garcia et al., 2000). Moreover, these observations suggest that seasonal and physiologic variations have to be taken into consideration for the correct interpretation of serum chemistry and elements status in cattle (Yokus and Cakir, 2006). They further explained that nutritional supplements are required for cattle during certain periods to avoid a decline of their performance, which would then represent consequent economic loses. Further study is therefore, recommended to further demonstrate benefits of feeding GNS for improvement of production and the health of Indigenous cattle grazing natural pasture and the study should focus on evaluating its effects on sex and age of those cattle.

CONCLUSION

Most of the biochemical parameters measured in this study were in normal range, however, the slight higher deviations were observed in BUN and AMYL. The values for GLU and AMYL were below and above reference values respectively and. authors are not able to explain the findings; therefore, further research is needed to investigate the effect of GNS on GLU and AMYL in light of the findings of this study. Especially since glucose is regarded as the principal source of energy for the life processes of the mammalian cell (Saleh et al., 2011) and inadequate availability of utilizable glucose thus reduces the hypothalamic release of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH), leading to a decrease in LH release. Besides this could eventually delay or prevent ovulation Hess et al., (2005).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors would like to thank University of South Africa (UNISA) for the financial support and Animal Health Department (North West University) for their laboratory equipment. Great acknowledgement is given to Mokolopi’s family for provision of research animals and Mr. Dockey Mokolopi and Mr. Tshepang Mokolopi who took care of research animals.

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