HAEMATOLOGICAL STUDIES OF GROWER RABBITS FED PROCESSED KOLANUT (Cola nitida) POD MEAL DIETS SUPPLEMENTED WITH MULTIENZYMES

Abstract

This study aimed at studying the effects of diets containingprocessed kolanut (Cola nitida) pod meal (PKPM) and multi-enzymes (E) on haematological indices of growing rabbits. Five diets (diet 1: control; diet 2: 0.35g/kgE; diet 3: 125g/kg PKPM; diet 4: 125g/kg PKPM+0.35g/kgE; diet 5: 150g/kg PKPM and diet 6: 150g/kg PKPM+0.35g/kgE) were formulated. One hundred and eighty5 week-old rabbits of cross-breeds and mixed sexes were used randomly allocated (30 rabbits/treatment; 10 replicates/treatment; 3 rabbits/replicate)to the 6 dietsin a completely randomised design. The rabbits were fed ad libitum throughout the period (10 weeks) of the feeding trial. The blood indices were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the dietary treatments, except (P<0.05) for haemoglobin concentration and lymphocytevalues. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of PKPM upto150g/kg level with or without 0.35g/kg multi-enzyme supplementation does not affect the normal blood production in growing rabbits.