EFFECT OF UREA TREATED MAIZE STOVER BASED COMPLETE DIETS ONTHE BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN THE RUMEN AND BLOOD PARAMETERS OFCROSSBRED BULLS

The experiment was conducted to determine the effect of urea-ammonia treated maize stover (UTMS) based complete diets on biochemical changes in blood and rumen liquor of Friesian x Bunaji bulls. Sixteen Friesian x Bunaji crossbred bulls averaging 158kg were divided into four groups of four animals each and randomly allocated to four complete diets containing 40,50,60 and 70% urea –ammonia treated maize stover. Strained rumen liquor (SRL) and blood sample were collected to determine rumen and serum biochemical parameters. The pH of SRL did not differ significantly (P>0.05) between treatments and sampling time. However, Total nitrogen (P 0.05) in serum urea, creatinine, glucose and protein across treatment groups. Values obtained were within normal ranges. Sampling time did not significantly (P>0.05) affect both serum urea and glucose; and they had their peak concentrations at 0-2h and 0h post-feeding, respectively. At 4h post-feeding, serum creatinine differed significantly (P<0.05). Serum protein differed (P<0.05) between 2-4h post-feeding. The result showed that t he values for serum urea nitrogen, creatinine, glucose and protein were similar across treatments and were within normal physiological ranges. Thus, s mall holder cattle farmers can adopt urea-ammonia treatment as a cheaper measure of improving the nutritional value of  poor quality roughages.