Effect of Banana Peel Meal (Musa sapientum L.) on Carcass Characteristics and Haematological Parameters of Growing Rabbits in Semi- Arid Zone of Nigeria

Abstract

Sixty (60) mixed sex cross breeds grower rabbits aged 4 – 7 weeks, with average initial weight of 770g, were used in this study to evaluate the effect of banana peel meal on theircarcass characteristics and haematological parameters. The rabbits were assigned to four dietary treatments containing banana peel meal at 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% respectively in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). There were significant (p<0.05) differences in final weight, slaughtered weight, dressed weight, body length and kidney weight while loin, tail and length of gastro-intestinal segment showed no difference among the treatment groups.The result of the hematological parameters indicated that mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), neutrophil and basophil showed significant (p<0.05) differences among the treatment groups. Packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), mean corpuscular haemoglobinconcentration (MCHC), lymphocytes, monocytes and eosinophils were similar among the treatment groups.It was concluded that up to20% banana peel can be included in the diets of rabbits without adverse effects on carcass andblood indices.