Plasma Electrolyte, Protein and Metabolite Levels in Nigerian White Fulani Cattle underTwo Di¡erent Management Systems F.O.Olayemi 1 *,J.O.Oyewale 1 andJ.L.Fajinmi 2 1 Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, 2 Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria *Correspondence: E-mail: library@kdl.ui.edu.ng Olayemi,F.O.,Oyewale,J.O.andFajinmi,J.L.,2001.Plasmaelectrolyte,proteinandmetabolitelevelsin Nigerian White Fulani cattle under two di¡erent management systems. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 33(5),407^411 ABSTRACT Plasmaelectrolyte,proteinandmetaboliteconcentrationsweredeterminedinWhiteFulanicattlekept underintensiveandextensivesystemsofmanagementinNigeria.Thetotalproteinandalbuminvalues weresigni¢cantlyhigher( p50.02and p50.05,respectively)undertheintensivemanagementsystems. Theplasmabicarbonate,calcium,inorganicphosphate,potassium,sodium,globulin,creatinineand ureavaluesweresimilarunderbothsystemsofmanagement. Keywords: breed,cattle,management,plasmaelectrolytes,plasmaproteins,WhiteFulani INTRODUCTION WhiteFulani(Bunaji)cattleareWestAfricanhornedzebufoundinthenorthernpart ofNigeria.Theyweighbetween250and350kg,andcharacteristicallypossessawhite coatwithblackpoints(WilliamsonandPayne,1984).Mostofthesecattlearereared extensivelybytheFulaninomadicpeople. MATERIALSANDMETHODS A group of 19 intensively managed White Fulani cattle, of both sexes and of ages ranging between 2 and 5 years, belonging to the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Ibadan, Nigeria were used.The animals were all clinically healthy. Theywerehousedinpensatnightandreleasedintoafencedpaddocktograzeon improvedgrassandlegumepastureduringtheday.Thefeedwassupplementedwith maize, citrus pulp, brewer's grains and salt lick (Kola & Sons Agro Chemical Ltd, Ilorin,Nigeria).Theanimalswereallowedfreeaccesstowaterandwereprophylacti- callytreatedagainsttrypanosomosisat3-monthintervalswithdiminazineaceturate (Berenil,Hoechst,Hamburg,Germany)at3.5mg/kgbodyweight,intramuscularly. Tropical Animal Health and Production,33(2001)407^411 # 2001KluwerAcademicPublishers.PrintedintheNetherlands 407