EFFECT OF BITTER LEAF MEAL (VERNONIA AMYGDALINA) ON HAEMATOLOGICAL INDICES AND BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVEL OF RABBITS.

Abstract

In a ten-week feeding trial, fifty six mixed breeds of rabbits were used to evaluate the effect of bitter leaf meal (BLM) on the haematological indices and blood glucose level. Four concentrate mash diets were compounded with inclusion of BLM at 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% graded levels in a completely randomized design. Data obtained were statistically analyzed with the General Linear Model of SAS and means were separated using the Duncan Multiple Range Test. The proximate composition in this study showed that bitter leaf had DM (94.70%), CP (20.48%), CF (11.15%), EE (7.05%) and Ash (13.30 %). The DM
decreased as the inclusion level of BLM increased in the diets while the Ash content was highest in 15% BLM (34.35, followed by 10% BLM (32.25), 0% BLM (29.90) and 5% BLM (29.50) while the CP content of diets 5% BLM, 10% BLM and 15% BLM were higher than 0% BLM diet. However, the ME content of the experimental diets decreased as the inclusion level of BLM increased in the diets. The rabbits fed diets 0% BLM (8.77) and 5% BLM (8.03) had significantly higher (p<0.05) RBC counts than diets 10% BLM (6.74) and 15% BLM (6.67) diets while the MCV and MCH counts were higher in rabbits fed diets 10% BLM and 15% BLM than other diets. However, there were no significant differences (p>0.05) in the MCHC, WBC, PCV and Hb values of rabbits fed the experimental diets. Furthermore, there were no significant differences (p>0.05) among the blood glucose levels of rabbits fed the experimental diets. Therefore, it could be concluded that inclusion of bitter leaf meal (BLM) in the diets of rabbits up to 15% had no deleterious effect on the haematological indices and blood glucose level.