GROWTH RATE AND HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF WEANER RABBITS FED ON TIGER (Cyperus esculentus) NUT MEAL-BASED DIETS

Authors

  • S. E. Alu Nasarawa State University, Keffi, PM.B.135, Shabu-Lafia Campus, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
  • M. Torhemen Akperan Orshi College of Agriculture, Yandev, P.M.B. 181 Gboko, Benue State, Nigeria.
  • D. Gambo Nasarawa State University, Keffi, PM.B.135, Shabu-Lafia Campus, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.7114

Keywords:

Weaner rabbits, haematology, growth rate, Tiger nut offal

Abstract

Twenty crosses of Californian x New Zealand breeds of weaner rabbits averaging 4 to 6 weeks old of mix sexes were used to investigate their growth rate and haematological parameters using tiger nut offal (TNO) meal-based diets in a 35d experiment. The rabbits were randomly allotted to 5 treatment groups and replicated 4 times. Each replicate had 1 rabbit that was housed individually in a cage. The rabbits were fed twice daily (7.00am and 4.00pm) and had access to drinking water at ail times. Feeding troughs and drinkers were provided in each cage and a known quantity of feed was supplied daily. Five diets T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5; were compounded to be iso-nitrogenous (18% CP) and iso-caloric (2700 ME kcal/kg), TNO was included in the diets at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%, respectively. Performance data were collected in the course of the feeding trial and the result showed non-significance (P>0.05) in feed intake (68. 11-75.66 g/rabbit/day), body weight gain (5.39-8.40 g/rabbit/day), feed conversion ratio (6.64-7.82) and protein efficiency ratio (11.59-13.38); others parameter included feed cost per kg and mortality. Blood samples were collected from 2 rabbits per treatment for haematological parameters; the results obtained showed that there was no variation (P>0.05) in PCV (26.25-34.00 %), Hb (9.30-10.10 g/dl), RBC (2.23-2.93 X10") and WBC (6.00-7.75 X10’). MCV, MCH, MCHC, neutrophils and leucocytes were also not affected by the graded levels of TNO. The inclusion of TNO in the diet of rabbits did not affect their health status as well as growth rate therefore; farmers can incorporate up to 20% of TNO in the diets of rabbits without causing any deleterious effect

Author Biographies

S. E. Alu, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, PM.B.135, Shabu-Lafia Campus, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture

M. Torhemen, Akperan Orshi College of Agriculture, Yandev, P.M.B. 181 Gboko, Benue State, Nigeria.

Department of Animal Husbandry, School of Animal Technology

D. Gambo, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, PM.B.135, Shabu-Lafia Campus, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture

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Published

2024-07-15

How to Cite

Alu, S. E., Torhemen, M., & Gambo, D. (2024). GROWTH RATE AND HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF WEANER RABBITS FED ON TIGER (Cyperus esculentus) NUT MEAL-BASED DIETS. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production, 622–625. https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.7114

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