Assessment of Growth Performance and Blood Profile of Rabbit Bucks Fed Moringa oleifera Leaf Meal

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess growth performance and blood profile of rabbit bucks fed dietary inclusion levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MoLM). Thirty (30) rabbit bucks (739.83 to 805.17 g) were balanced for weight and allocated to five groups of 6 rabbits and replicated six times with a buck per replicate in a complete randomized design. Five diets were formulated with incorporation of MoLM at 0.0, 7.5, 15.0, 22.5 and 30.0% and denoted as T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively. Results on growth performance parameters were not influenced by dietary treatment. Rabbits fed control diet, diets containing 7.5, 15.0 and 22.5% had highest and similar dress weight while those on diet containing 30.0% recorded the least dress weight. Heart weight was highest and similar for rabbit fed control diet, diets containing 7.5, 22.5 and 30.0% while those on diet containing 15.0% had the least heart weight. Rabbits on control diet had highest kidney fats while rabbits on diet containing 7.5 and 30.0% recorded the least and similar kidney fats weight. Bile, left kidney and liver weight were lower for rabbits fed 30.0%. Rabbits fed control diet, diets containing 7.5, 15.0 and 30.0% had highest and similar MCHC while rabbits on diet containing 22.5% recorded the least MCHC. Rabbits on control diet and diet containing 30.0% had the highest) and least lymphocytes, respectively. Rabbits fed control diet, diets containing 7.5 and 15.0% recorded highest and similar neutrophils while rabbits fed diet containing 30.00% had least neutrophils. Rabbits on control diet, diets containing 7.5 and 15.0% had highest and similar albumin while rabbits fed diets containing 22.5 and 30.0% recorded the least and similar albumin. Rabbits on control diet, diets containing 22.5 and 30.0% recorded highest and similar ALP while rabbits on diets containing 7.5 and 15.0% had the least and similar ALP. It is concluded that inclusion MOLM up to 30% had no adverse effect on their growth performance, blood profile reduced kidney fat and liver weight kidney weight. It is therefore recommended that Moringa oleifera leaf meal can be included in the diets of rabbit bucks intended for breeding purposes up to 30.0%.