BLOOD CHEMISTRY AND HAEMATOLOGICAL INDICES OF RABBITS FED SUPPLEMENTARY WILD SUNFLOWER (Tithonia diversifolia Helms. A.Gray) LEAF MEAL

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the haematological profile and serum biochemical indices of rabbits fed graded level of wild sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia Helms. A.Gray). The study involved Twenty-four (24) growing rabbits (7 – 8 weeks of age with average weight 181.25 ±0.02g) of mixed sexes. The rabbits were allotted into four dietary treatments comprising six (6) rabbits per treatment. The dietary treatments were 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% sunflower leaf meal (SFLM) inclusion levels. The experimental diet contained 17% crude protein and 2488.68 Kcal/Kg metabolizable energy. The feeding trial lasted eight weeks, during which period feed and water were provided ad – libitum. Two blood samples each were collected per rabbit; one set of the blood samples were collected into plastic bottles containing Ethylene Diamine Tetra acetic acid (EDTA) for haematological studies while the other sample was collected into plain sterile bottles for the serum biochemical indices determination. Data generated were subjected to analysis of variance. Results obtained from this study revealed that PCV showed significant (p<0.05) difference with 20% SFLM having the highest mean value of 39%, while 0%SFLM had the least mean of 30.60%. The same trend was observed for Hb and RBC. WBC was significantly influenced with the inclusion of SFLM with 10%SFLM having 5.33X109/L, 20%SFLM (5.18X109) while 0%SFLM had the least mean of 4.68X109/L. ALT was also influenced significantly  (p<0.05), 20%SFLM had similar mean value (66.50) with 0%SFLM (72.00). The study concludes that inclusion of sunflower
leaf meal up to 20% had haematinic potential on weaner rabbits.