Effect of graded dietary levels of Garcinia Kola seed meal on performance, intestinal microbial load, haematological and serum biochemical profile of rabbits.

Abstract

Effect of dietary Garcinia kola seed meal (GKSM) (bitter kola) on the performance, microbial activities and blood constituents of rabbits were investigated. Four rabbit grower mash were prepared such that diet T 0 (control) contained no Garcinia kola seed meal while diets T 1, T 2 and T 3 contained 2.5%, 5.0% and 7.5% Garcinia kola seed meal, respectively, partly replacing maize. Each diet was fed to a group of 9 grower rabbits for 56 days, in completely randomized design (CRD) experiment. Each group was further subdivided into three replicates of 3 rabbits each. Faecal samples were collected from four rabbits per treatment at the first and last weeks of the experiment and used to determine intestinal microbial load of the rabbits. At the end of the feeding trial, blood samples were randomly collected from four rabbits per treatment and used to determine heamatological and serum biochemical profile of the rabbits. Body weight gain, daily body weight gain and feed conversion ratio (g feed/g gain) of the groups on GKSM diets decreased significantly (P < 0.05) while the feed intake increased (P < 0.05). GKSM had no significant effects (P<0.05) on the parasite, cysts of Isospora belli, but significantly eradicated Salmonella and Streptococcus species. Haematological indices (RBC, HB, PCV, MCV, MCHC, MCH, WBC and platelets) were not affected by the treatments (P > 0.05). There were no traces of eosinophils, basophils and monocytes. Biochemical indices (serum cholesterol, serum protein, serum albumin, serum globulin) were also not significantly affected (P > 0.05) by the treatments. The glucose levels of GKSM fed groups were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced. The electrolytes (potassium, sodium and chloride) as well as calcium and bicarbonate levels were not affected by the treatments (P > 0.05). Cost of production (N/Kg gain) was highly increased with increase in dietary GKSM.

Dietary effects of Garcinia kola seed meal on growth performance, hematology and serum biochemical parameters of weaned rabbits

“…We observed that GKSM used in this study exhibited high hypolipidemic activity at higher inclusion levels of 3% and 4.5% than the control and 1.5% dietary groups (Table-6). Our results do not align with the reports of Esiegwu et al [31] who did not record any treatment effect on serum cholesterol on feeding rabbits with GKSM.…”

“…Ebenebe et al [51] reported that as the dietary inclusion levels of G. kola increased from 2.5% to 7.5%, the weight gain of the rabbits was significantly depressed. Higher levels of GKSM had been previously reported to have growth-depressing effects on rabbits [31,52] and broiler birds [30]. The growth-depressing effects of higher GKSM may be due to the presence of tannins and oxalate.…”

“…The result of the present study does not agree with the findings of Ebenebe et al [9], who reported that the supplemental G. kola reduced plasma protein in rabbits. Esiegwu et al [31] also reported that serum protein did not differ with the dietary supplementation of GKSM in rabbits. There is evidence that suggests that an increase in serum TP may be due to the nutritional effects of the dietary treatments and an improved body weight gain [63].…”

“…Increased serum Na and K levels had earlier been attributed to the inability of the kidney to properly regulate these electrolytes, indicating renal dysfunction [71]. Esiegwu et al [31] reported that GKSM supplementation did not affect serum K and Na levels in rabbits.…”

“…On the other hand, hematological and biochemical parameters are important diagnostic tools that are used to assess the physiological status of animals [26]. There are existing reports on feeding GKS meal (GKSM) to rats [19], fish [27,28], broilers [29,30], and layers [31]. However, there are a few studies to ascertain the dietary effects of GKSM on growth, hematology, and serum biochemical parameters of weaned rabbits.…”