Haematology, Serum Analysis, Cholesterol Status, and Physico-chemical Evaluation of Rabbit Fed Africa Sunflower Leaf Meal in their Diet.

Abstract

Inclusion of forages as an alternative feed, to reduce cost of feed and improve rabbit health and production, is the focus. A ten weeks of feeding trials was conducted to investigate the effects of African Sunflower Leaf Meal (ASLM) inclusion on weaners rabbit on hematology, serum analysis, cholesterol status and physico-chemical evaluation. 48 (weaners) White New Zealand male rabbit at six weeks of 9.5 to 1kg were allotted to four dietary treatments. Treatment 1: Tridax procumbens, Treatment 2 :100% Concentrates, Treatment 3: 50% ASLM + 50% concentrates, Treatment 4: 100% ASLM with twelve rabbits per treatment in a completely randomize design (CRD). Hematological indices were significant highest (P>0.05) in T4 with PCV (32.01%), RBC (6.15 x 10⁶ul), WBC (8.950 x10³Ul), lymphocyte (71.33%), platelet (109.7) than   followed by T1, T2 and T3. Serum metabolites had significant highest valves in T4 for all parameters measured except for Alb (g/dl) than other treatments. When the dietary treatment on cholesterol was evaluated, T2 had the highest significant values for LDL (7.72 mg/dl) and HDL (60.43 mg/dl), followed by T1 with LDL (6.03 mg/dl) and HDL (59.12 mg/dl) while T4 had the least significant values of LDL (5.14 mg/dl) and (HDL 51.00 mg/dl). T4 had the highest (P>0.05) value for water holding capacity (80) followed by T1 (39) while T3 had the least (26). T3 and T4 were rated higher for color or appearance by the panelists than T1 and T2.

Rabbits fed T4 100% ASLM in their diet, performed better that other treatments in all parameters measured.

Keywords: rabbits, haematology, serum, cholesterol, physico-chemical