Blood indices of sheep fed with ensiled signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens)
The Brachiaria species, particularly B. decumbens, is a key ruminant feed in the tropics but contains steroidal saponins that may cause toxicity, raising concerns for small ruminant farmers. Eighteen 6-month-old sheep were randomly assigned to three treatments over a 90-day feeding trial: Negative c...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor and Francis
2025
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118628/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118628/1/118628.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848867558429556736 |
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| author | Ahmad Fauzi, Nurul Aishah Chung, Eric Lim Teik Abu Bakar, Nurul Adilah Kamalludin, Mamat Hamidi Reduan, Mohd Farhan Hanif Jesse, Faez Firdaus Abdullah Dunshea, Frank R. |
| author_facet | Ahmad Fauzi, Nurul Aishah Chung, Eric Lim Teik Abu Bakar, Nurul Adilah Kamalludin, Mamat Hamidi Reduan, Mohd Farhan Hanif Jesse, Faez Firdaus Abdullah Dunshea, Frank R. |
| author_sort | Ahmad Fauzi, Nurul Aishah |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | The Brachiaria species, particularly B. decumbens, is a key ruminant feed in the tropics but contains steroidal saponins that may cause toxicity, raising concerns for small ruminant farmers. Eighteen 6-month-old sheep were randomly assigned to three treatments over a 90-day feeding trial: Negative control (fresh P. purpureum), fresh B. decumbens, and positive control (ensiled B. decumbens). Blood samples were collected on days 0, 30, 60, and 90 for haematology and biochemistry analyses. Fresh B. decumbens group exhibited significantly elevated (p < 0.05) haematological parameters, including red and white blood cell counts, plasma protein, and various liver, kidney, and serum protein markers. In contrast, positive control group showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) compared to the negative control. Despite these variations, some values remained within normal ranges. The findings suggest that feeding ensiled B. decumbens mitigates the adverse effects of steroidal saponins, promoting overall healthier outcomes in sheep compared to fresh B. decumbens. Ensiling B. decumbens is a promising strategy to address saponin toxicity and improve ruminant feed safety. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T14:38:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-118628 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T14:38:24Z |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publisher | Taylor and Francis |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | upm-1186282025-07-21T02:09:46Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118628/ Blood indices of sheep fed with ensiled signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens) Ahmad Fauzi, Nurul Aishah Chung, Eric Lim Teik Abu Bakar, Nurul Adilah Kamalludin, Mamat Hamidi Reduan, Mohd Farhan Hanif Jesse, Faez Firdaus Abdullah Dunshea, Frank R. The Brachiaria species, particularly B. decumbens, is a key ruminant feed in the tropics but contains steroidal saponins that may cause toxicity, raising concerns for small ruminant farmers. Eighteen 6-month-old sheep were randomly assigned to three treatments over a 90-day feeding trial: Negative control (fresh P. purpureum), fresh B. decumbens, and positive control (ensiled B. decumbens). Blood samples were collected on days 0, 30, 60, and 90 for haematology and biochemistry analyses. Fresh B. decumbens group exhibited significantly elevated (p < 0.05) haematological parameters, including red and white blood cell counts, plasma protein, and various liver, kidney, and serum protein markers. In contrast, positive control group showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) compared to the negative control. Despite these variations, some values remained within normal ranges. The findings suggest that feeding ensiled B. decumbens mitigates the adverse effects of steroidal saponins, promoting overall healthier outcomes in sheep compared to fresh B. decumbens. Ensiling B. decumbens is a promising strategy to address saponin toxicity and improve ruminant feed safety. Taylor and Francis 2025 Article PeerReviewed text en cc_by_4 http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118628/1/118628.pdf Ahmad Fauzi, Nurul Aishah and Chung, Eric Lim Teik and Abu Bakar, Nurul Adilah and Kamalludin, Mamat Hamidi and Reduan, Mohd Farhan Hanif and Jesse, Faez Firdaus Abdullah and Dunshea, Frank R. (2025) Blood indices of sheep fed with ensiled signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens). New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research. pp. 1-18. ISSN 0028-8233; eISSN: 1175-8775 (In Press) https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00288233.2025.2475944 10.1080/00288233.2025.2475944 |
| spellingShingle | Ahmad Fauzi, Nurul Aishah Chung, Eric Lim Teik Abu Bakar, Nurul Adilah Kamalludin, Mamat Hamidi Reduan, Mohd Farhan Hanif Jesse, Faez Firdaus Abdullah Dunshea, Frank R. Blood indices of sheep fed with ensiled signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens) |
| title | Blood indices of sheep fed with ensiled signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens) |
| title_full | Blood indices of sheep fed with ensiled signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens) |
| title_fullStr | Blood indices of sheep fed with ensiled signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Blood indices of sheep fed with ensiled signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens) |
| title_short | Blood indices of sheep fed with ensiled signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens) |
| title_sort | blood indices of sheep fed with ensiled signal grass (brachiaria decumbens) |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118628/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118628/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118628/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118628/1/118628.pdf |