Serum and haematological parameters of growing rabbits as affected by varying dietary inclusion levels of maggot (Hermetia illucens) meal as replacement for soybean meal.

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of replacing soybean meal (SBM) with maggot meal (MM) in growing rabbit diets on the serum and haematological parameters. Sixty unsexed mixed breeds (New Zealand White x California) rabbits were allotted on a weight equalization basis into five dietary treatments, where the control diet (soybean meal-based) has no MM (MM0) while other diets contain 25% (MM25), 50% (MM50), 75% (MM75) and 100% (MM100) MM as replacement for soyabean meal. Each treatment comprises four replicates having three rabbits each (12 rabbits per treatment) and the feeding trial lasted for 56 days. Feed and water were offered to the rabbits' ad-libitum throughout the experimental period. Blood collection for the determination of serum and haematological parameters were done on the 56th day. All data obtained were subjected to one way analysis of variance SAS 2000 and significant means were separated using Duncan multiple range test. The feeding of MM100 diet to rabbits resulted in the highest (P<0.05) total serum protein (11.60 g/dl) and globulin (6.70 g/dl) while those fed MM0 diet had the lowest values for total serum protein (6.55 g/dl) and globulin (2.60 g/dl). The inclusion of MM in the diet of rabbits reduced (P<0.05) serum cholesterol. Haematological parameters were not significantly (P>0.05) influenced by varying inclusion levels of MM in the diet of rabbits. In conclusion, the replacement of soyabean meal with MM in the diet of rabbits up to 100% did not have any deleterious effect on the serum and haematological parameters.