Abstract

Yearling West African dwarf bucks were allotted into four (4) dietary treatments of four goats each. The goats were fed bamboo leaves at 250g/goat/day and concentrate supplement diets containing 0%,10%,15%and 20% cashew nutshell for T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively at 150g per goat/day for a duration of sixty-three (63) days. The experimental design was a completely randomized design ,data were analyzed using a one way analysis of variance and least significant difference to separate the significant means.(SPSS version 23, 2015 edition) Concentrate diets and bamboo leaf samples were analyzed using the methods of AOAC ( 2000)), on the last day of the experiment blood samples for hematological and serological studies were collected in sample bottles from the jugular veins of the goats ,using needles and syringes. Values for daily supplement intake (62.40 &ndash; 98.80 g), and total daily feed intake (249.98- 285.10 g) were significantly(P<0.05) different, daily bamboo intake (182.75 &ndash; 187.63g) were not significant. (P>0.05) All the hematological parameters determined were not significantly(P>0.05) different, only the cholesterol (4.80- -9.88Mmol/l) showed significant(P<0.05) difference amongst all the serological parameters tested. It was therefore concluded that cashew nutshell up to 15% level of inclusion in supplement diets for yearling West African dwarf goats had no adverse effects on the hematological and serum biochemical indices of the goats Cashew nut shell at 15% level of inclusion was recommended in supplement diets for yearling West African dwarf goats. Further research using other species of ruminants such as sheep and cattle was also recommended.