EFFECT OF GRADED LEVELS OF FRESHLY HARVESTED BAMBOO LEAF (Bambusa Arundinacea) AND TRIDAX LEAF (Tridax Procumbens) MEALS ON THE HAEMATOLOGY OF RABBITS

Abstract

Graded levels of Bamboo and Tridax leaf meal were administered into the diet of growing rabbits to determine its effect on their haematological variables (PCV, RBC, WBC, Hb, MCV, MCH and MCHC). Thirty six (36) individually caged mixed rabbits (New Zealand White, Chinchilla and crosses) were randomly allocated to six treatments comprising of the control T1 (formulated feed alone), T2 (100%), T3(75%), T4(50%), T5(25%) andT6 (0%) bamboo leafmeal inclusion levels in a completely randomized design. Each treatment comprise of 6 rabbits. Results obtained showed that Haematological parameters such as the Pack Cell Volume (PVC), White Blood Cell (WBC), Platelets, Red Blood Cell (RBC), Haemoglobin (Hb), Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentrate (MCHC), and Mean Cell Volume (MCV) were significantly different (P<0.05) among the rabbits across the treated groups. Mean Ceil Haemoglobin (MCH) values showed no significant differences (p>0.05).The values for PCV suggested that the various levels of Bamboo leaf meal (BLM) used in this study had no toxic effect on the health status of the experimental animals. The non-elevated values of neutrophils and lymphocytes ratio suggest that the animals were clinically sound. Up to 100% of BLM in combination with formulated diet can thus be included in the diet of growing rabbits without any serious adverse effects on haematological characteristics