Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of giving water contaminated with used engine oil on performance, carcass and meat characteristics of West African Dwarf (WAD) rams. 15 WAD rams about 10 months old were used. They were grouped into 5 balanced for weight. Used engine oil was collected from an Auto mechanic workshop in Ayetoro Yewa Ogun state and mixed to 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20ml with one litre of clean water at 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% designated T0, T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. The rams were assigned to these treatment groups in a completely randomized design experiment and were given the contaminated water for 13 weeks. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) at p=0.05. The results showed that nutrient intake was higher, while water intake decreased (p<0.05) as the level of used engine oil in water increased, nitrogen intakes and urinary nitrogen decreased (p<0.05) as well as nitrogen retention. Although weight gain increased (p<0.05) feed efficiency decreased (p<0.05). Carcass primal cuts and meat characteristics decreased except cooking yield and water holding capacity as used engine oil increased in the given water. It was therefore, recommended that used engine oil should not be allowed to flow freely into the surrounding water bodies where grazing animals may consume it as this may lead to reduction in their water intake which can affect the health of the animals and increased feed intake can affect profit margin of the farmers.

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