Evaluation of Haematology and Serum Biochemistry of Weaner Rabbits Fed Diets Containing Forage Leaf Meals

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of varying levels of Ficus sycomorus and Parkia biglobosa leaf meals based diets on the haematology and serum biochemistry of weaner rabbits. Twenty (20) rabbits of mixed breeds and sex were allotted to four

(4) treatments with each treatment consisting of five (5) rabbits. The treatments evaluated consisted of diets with zero forage (T1; control), 5% Ficus sycomorus leaf meal (T2), 5% Parkia biglobosa leaf meal (T3) and 2.5% Ficus sycomorus + 2.5% Parkia biglobosa leaf meals (T4) in a Completely Randomized Design. The diets were iso-nitrogenous and the trial lasted for eight (8) weeks. Result of the study revealed significant differences (P<0.05) in all parameters evaluated for haematology. The values obtained for biochemical parameters in the control and study animals also showed significant differences (P<0.05) except for globulin. It was concluded that inclusion of forage leaf meals in the diets of weaner rabbits had no adverse effect on the parameters evaluated since the blood profiles of rabbits in all treatment groups were within the normal range for rabbits. It was therefore recommended that Ficus sycomorus and Parkia biglobosa leaf meals could be safely incorporated into the diets of rabbits at the various inclusion levels tested as an alternative to expensive conventional protein sources.