Influence of nickel supplementation from nickel sulphate hexahydrate and nickel-sodium monofluorophosphate on the performance of the West African dwarf kids

The influence of nickel supplementation on the performance of the West African dwarf kids was studied. The investigation involved 12 kids, 3-4 months old with average weight of 5.99 +/- 0.18 kg in a completely randomised design experiment. The treatments consisted of nickel in the forms of nickel-sodium monofluorophosphate (Ni-SMFP) and nickel sulphate hexahydrate (NiSO4. 6H(2)O) added to a corn-based diet at 10 ppm of nickel. The control was the corn-based diet with no nickel supplement. Feeding was at 4% of body weight. Parameters for assessment were weight gain, feed intake, nitrogen intake and retention, urea, total protein, creatinine and glucose in serum, haemoglobin, erythrocyte and leucocyte counts. Feed intake, weight gain and nitrogen retention were affected (P < 0.05) by treatment, Ni-SMFP having greater (P < 0.05) influence than NiSO4. 6H(2)O. Nickel supplementation had no effect on serum creatinine, glucose, haemoglobin, erythrocyte and leucocyte counts. Ni-SMFP may be the better supplementary form of nickel in enhancing the performance of the young kid. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.