Abstract
Concentrations in whole blood of P, Ca, Mg, total protein and urea in serum and rd (RBC) and white blood cells (WBC) were examined monthly for two years in Botswana goats to establish normal concentrations and to evaluate the effect of supplementation with an equal-parts mixture of salt and dicalcium phosphate or drought relief cubes. Overall mean level observed for the parameters were: Ca, 8.91 ± 1.61 mg 100 ml-1; P, 5.15 ± 1.52 mg 100 ml-1; Mg, 2.59 ± 0.71 mg 100 ml-1; Cu, 135.39 ± 80.08 ?g 100 ml-1; total protein, 7.83 ± l.36 g 100 ml-1; urea, 44.42 ± 17.32 mg 100 ml- 1; RBC's, 11.34 ± 2.10 x 106 mm-3; and WBC's, 13.28 ± 3.93 x 103 mm-3. Supplemented goats had higher (P < 0.01) concentrations of Ca; P levels were unchanged. Mineral-mixture supplemented goats had lower (P < 0.01) concentrations of total protein, urea and WBC's and higher (P < 0.01) levels of RBC's. Goats receiving a drought relief cube supplement had lower (P < 0.01) concentrations of total protein and higher (P < 0.01) levels of WBC's. All observations fell within the normal ranges quoted in the literature with the exception that total protein and urea were higher. It was concluded that supplemental feeding was of minimal value under the environmental conditions of this study.
