Nutritional response to water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) challenges via blood biochemical profiles in goats and sheep

Eichhornia crassipes remains a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems and poses economic challenges globally. Interestingly, its high nutritional value and abundance in water bodies, making it a promising and cost-effective source of animal feed. The purpose of the study was to see how varying inclusion rates of E. crassipise affected the blood biochemical profiles of Doyogena sheep and Woyto-Guji goat local breeds. Twelve sheep and twelve goats were used in a 2*4 randomized crossover design with two species, four diets, and four phases (15-day adaptation plus 7-day experimental diets), and on the last day blood sample collected. The dietary treatments included E. crassipise (0, 25, 50, and 75%) as a substitute for commercial concentrate. The data were analyzed using SAS software tool PROC GLM, and Pearson's correlation coefficient between serum biochemical indices was computed. Results of AST, ALB, GLB, AST/ALT, and A/G showed significant (P < 0.0001), ALP (P < 0.005), and GLU (P < 0.05) differences between species of animals, except for ALT, CREAT, TP, and UREA. Sheep had higher values for AST, ALP, GLB, AST/ALT, CREAT, and UREA, except for A/G, ALB, ALT, and TP. Among treatments and treatment species interaction effect did not show variation in all studied parameters. Positive correlations were observed between ALT and AST, TP and ALB, and A/G and ALB, negative correlations were observed between ALT and AST/ALT, TP and A/G; GLB and A/G in sheep. Furthermore, positive correlations were observed between AST/ALT with ALT and AST and ALB with TP and A/G; however, negative correlations were observed between ALB with TP and A/G in goats. It was concluded that substituting E. crassipise with concentrate had no adverse effect on the serum biochemical profile.