HAEMATOLOGICAL RESPONSE OF RABBIT BUCKS TO QUANTITATIVE FEED RESTRICTION AND FEEDING TIME

Abstract

The experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of feed restriction, feeding time and their interaction on haematological profile in rabbit bucks. Thirty six (36) rabbit bucks were used for the study. The rabbit bucks were fed 75.00, 67.50 and 60.00g commercial growers’ pellets to represent 100, 90 and 80% daily ration respectively. The bucks were divided into two groups of eighteen (18) bucks each. The first group was fed in the morning while the second group was fed their daily ration in the evening. The bucks were randomly assigned to the three (3) different levels of feed restriction, and replicated three (3) times in both morning and evening group respectively. Bucks fed 100% daily ration served as control. The study adopted a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement in completely randomized design (CRD). At the end of the 4th week of the experiment, blood samples were collected from each replicate for determination of hematological indices. Data obtained were subjected to General linear model (GLM) procedure in a completely randomized design, using IBM Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 21. The result showed that feed restriction affected (p<0.05) PCV, WBC, neutrophils and lymphocytes of rabbit bucks in the study. Feeding time significantly influenced (p<0.05) PCV, MCV, neutrophils, lymphocytes and platelets. There was interaction between feed restriction and time of feeding on MCV, neutrophils, and lymphocytes and platelets. In conclusion, Feeding rabbit bucks 90% of their daily ration in the evening improves most haematological parameters without compromising the health of the animals.