Nano Zinc Oxide Supplementation Improves Growth Performance and Health of West African Dwarf Goats

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of nano zinc oxide (nZnO) supplementation on growth performance and health of West African dwarf goats. A total of twenty-four ( 24) West African Dwarf (WAD) goats averaged 7.2±0.54kg were used for the experiment. The twenty-four (24) WAD goats were divided into three (3) treatment groups of eight ( 8) animals per group on weight equalization bases. Each group was randomly allotted to the three (3) experimental diets (0, 300 and 600mg/kg nano zinc oxide) in a completely randomized design (CRD). Data were collected for growth performance characteristics, hematology and serum chemistry and analyzed using one way analysis of variance while Tukey's test was used to separate significantly different means as in Statistical Analyst System software. Results indicated that significantly (p<0.05) higher total weight gain, average weight gain, total dry matter intake and average dry matter intake in goats fed 600mg/kg nZnO while similar in the control and those offered 300mg/kg nZnO. Hematological and serum parameter documented at the onset of the experiment were statistically (p>0.05) similar. The control diet and 600mg/kg nZnO elevated the packed cell volume, white blood cell, neutrophils, monocytes and mean corpuscular volume at the zenith of the experiment when compared to those offered 300mg/kg nZnO. However, nZnO supplementation at 300mg/kg gave increased total protein, globulin and total cholesterol concentration as compared to the control and 600mg/kg nZnO groups. Despite these divergences in function of nZnO, it was noted that it has no negative influence or toxicity noted or recorded. Thus, it can be concluded that nZnO supplementation can be adopted in goat feeding to improve growth and for strong immunity.