EFFECTS OF RAW KARAYA GUM TREE (Sterculia setigera) SEED MEAL ON HAEMATOLOGICAL AND SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY INDICES OF GROWER RABBITS

Abstract

Effects of feeding raw Karaya gum tree seed meal on haematological and serum indices were studied in a ten (10) weeks experiment using grower rabbits. Four diets were compounded with the control diet having no Karaya gum tree seed meal while diets 2, 3, and 4 had 2%, 4% and 6% respectively. Thirty-six mixed breed grower rabbits with an average initial weight of 600±10g were allocated to the four diets in a completely randomized design with nine rabbits per treatment. At the end of the feeding trial, blood samples were collected for haematological and serum biochemical indices. All the parameters determined for both haematological and serum indices were significantly (P<0.05) influenced with increase in the test ingredient. It is thus concluded that raw Karaya gum tree seed meal had effect on the health status of grower rabbits.