HAEMATOLOGY OF RABBITS FED CASSAVA PEEL MEAL BASED DIETS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ELEMENTAL SULPHUR

Abstract

This study evaluates the effect of cassava peel meal supplemented with elemental Sulphur (ES) on the haematology of rabbits. Thirty six crossbreed weaner rabbits were allocated to six diets groups containing 0, 25, 50, 75, 100% of ES as replacement for methionine (diets 1-5) while diet 6 had 100% each of methionine and ES dietary concentration. Haemoglobin (Hb) concentration varied significantly (p<0.05) across the treatment groups while rabbits fed diet containing equal quantity of methionine and ES recorded least (p<0.05) Hb of 8.17g/dl. ES as replacement for methionine had no significant (p>0.05) effect on Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), Mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) on rabbits fed cassava peel meal based diets. The study concluded that ES as replacement for methionine in the diets of rabbits containing cassava peel meal as basal ingredient had no negative effects on blood formation of rabbits. ES could be used at 50% replacement for methionine in rabbits fed cassava peel meal diets without detrimental effect on health while combination of methionine and ES each at 100% dietary content reduced rabbit haemoglobin.