SERUM BIOCHEMICAL INDICES AND LIPID PROFILE OF RABBIT DOES FED DIETS CONTAINING SUPPLEMENTAL LEVELS OF DATE (Phoenix dactylifera L.) FRUITS MEAL

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the serum biochemistry and lipid profile in female rabbits fed dried date fruit meal (DDFM) as supplement in their diets. Thirty-six female rabbits (does) were used for the study. The does were randomly allotted to four experimental groups in a completely randomized design which had nine does in each treatment, and further replicated three times to have 3 rabbit does in each replicate. The four experimental diets containing dried date fruits meal at 0.00, 0.50, 1.00 and 1.50%, respectively were tagged T1, T2. T3, and T4. At the end of the study, two separate blood samples, 3ml each, were collected from each replicate for serum biochemistry and lipid profile determination. Data obtained were subjected to one-way analysis of variance. The results showed that the serum biochemistry of the does fed diets containing varying levels of DDFM revealed significant differences in total protein, globulin, albumin, urea, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), while aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and glucose levels remained unaffected. Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL concentrations. Triglyceride levels were significantly higher in T2 (1.05 g/dL) than in T1 (0.80 g/dL), but comparable to T3 (0.95 g/dL) and T4 (1.00 g/dL), respectively. In conclusion, date fruits meal supplementation in female rabbits’ diets up to 1.50% does not have deleterious effect on their serum chemistry and lipid profile