BIOCHEMICAL AND HAEMATOLOGICAL INDICES OF WEANER RABBITS FED SORGHUM BREWERS DRIED GRAIN (SBDG)

Abstract

This study evaluated the biochemical and haematological indices of weaner rabbits fed sorghum brewer's dried grain (SBDG). Forty mixed breeds of rabbits (4-8weeks) were allotted into four experimental treatments in a completely randomized design. Four concentrate diets were compounded by replacement of maize with the inclusion of SBDG at 0, 20, 30 and 40%. The diets were fed to the rabbits at 5% of their body weight respectively. The diets containing SBDG (20%, 30% and 40%) had similar (p>0.05) value of glucose, total protein, globulin, albumin, AST and ALP. Animal fed diet 20%SBDG (85.63) had significantly highest (p<0.05) ALT compared to 0%SBDG (69.58), 30%SDBG (63.13) and 40%SBDG (58.99). The bilirubin total was significantly higher (p<0.05) than diets 0%SBDG and 30%SBDG.Rabbits fed diet 30%SBDG had significantly highest PCV value (36.65), followed by 40%SBDG (34.75), 20%SBDG (34.59) and 0%SBDG (35.55). The RBC was significant higher (P>0.05) in rabbits fed diets 30%SBDG (6.49) and 20%SBDG (6.14) than 0%SBDG (4.83) and 40%SBDG (4.20) whereas, the WBC count was significantly higher (P>0.05) in rabbits on diet 40%SBDG and 0%SBDG than 30%SBDG and 20%SBDG. It could be concluded that the total replacement of maize with SBDG in the diet of rabbits had no deleterious effect on the biochemical and haematological indices.