HAEMATOLOGY AND SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY OF GROWER RABBITS FED ACHA (Digitaria elixis) OFFAL BASED-DIETS SUPPLEMENTED WITH MAXIGRAINS® ENZYME

Abstract

Forty eight growing rabbits of mixed breeds and similar live weight were utilized in a 42 days experiment to evaluate the effect of feeding acha (fonio) offal meal-based diets supplemented with Maxigrain enzyme on their haematology and serum biochemistry. Six treatments diets namely T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 were compounded to be iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous, the Acha Offal (AO) was included at 0, 15 and 30% while the enzyme was supplemented at 0 and 200ppm. The experiment was arranged in a 2x3 factorial fitted into Completely Randomized Design. Each treatment was replicated 4 times having two rabbits per replicate. Feed and water were provided to the animals daily and all standard routine management practices were strictly observed throughout the experiment. At the end of the feeding trial, blood samples were collected from each animal for blood analyses. Main effect of Acha offal was not significant (p>0.05)on the haematological parameters except on White Blood Cell(WBC) and Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration(MCHC). Effect of enzymes was not different (P>0.05)except on WBC{0ppm (5.75) and 200ppm (6.60)} and MCHC{0ppm (33.27) and 200ppm (33.20)}. Interactive effect of Acha offal and enzyme showed that T2 had the highest WBC (8.80) while T4 had the lowest MCHC (33.10). Serum biochemical parameters were not affected by Acha offal except phosphorus where there was a significant (P<0.05) reduction in 30%AO(1.35). Enzymes effect showed that animals on 0ppm had significantly (p<0.05) higher phosphorus (1.83) than 200ppm (1.38). Acha offal supplemented with Maxigrain enzyme can be included in the diets of grower rabbits without adverse effect on haematological and serum biochemical indices.