EFFECT OF DIFFERENTLY PROCESSED DIETARY Delonix regia SEED MEAL ON THE BLOOD PARAMETERS OF RABBITS

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effects of different processed forms of Delonix regia seed meal on the haematological and serum biochemical indices of rabbits. A total of 32, mixed bred rabbits of both sexes aged 6- 7 months with an average weight of 1450- 1470g were used for the study. Four experimental diets were formulated comprising 0%(control), 15%(fermented), 15%(boiled) and 15%(toasted) levels of differently processed dietary Delonix regia seed meal as treatment T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively. The animals were divided into 4 treatment groups. Each treatment had 8 replications on body weight equalization basis. Each group was there after assigned to the 4 experimental diets in a completely randomized design experiment. The feeding trials lasted 12 weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, blood samples were collected from 4 rabbits per treatment for haematology and serum biochemistry analysis. The results of the data analysis showed that only white blood cells, lymphocytes, red blood cells, haemoglobin, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils were significantly different (P<0.05) between treatment groups in the Haematological parameters while total protein, globulin, cholesterol and albumin were significantly different (P<0.05) from the other groups in the serum biochemical parameters. This study concluded that blood chemistry (Haematological and serum biochemical indices) of rabbits fed 15% dietary level of different processed forms of Delonix regia seed meal did not adversely affect the well-being of the rabbits.