Salam N. Aritonang

The Hematology of Lactating Buffalo Fed Local Foliage as Feed Supplement

The research aimed to determine the effect of feed supplements of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) leaves, gliricidia (Gliricidia sepeum) leaves and katuk (Sauropus androgynus (L.) Merr.) leaves on the hematology of lactating buffalo. Four lactating buffaloes in Kanagarian Pamatang Panjang, Sijunjung district, West Sumatera, Indonesia were studied. The experiment used a Latin square design with four treatments and four replications/block. The treatments were control (without supplementary foliage, A), with cassava leaves (B), with gliricidia leaves (C) and with katuk leaves (D) each at 5 kg/head/day. The hematology variables measured were erythrocytes and leucocytes counts, as well as levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit. The results showed that supplementary foliage of 5 kg/head/day of cassava, gliricidia or katuk as leaves significantly increased the erythrocytes count and hemoglobin level, but did not affect the number of leucocytes in lactating buffalo.