Effect of different feed types on haematological and serum biochemical parameters of male and female weaner rabbits

Abstract

Feed components affect blood constituents and less consideration is often given to health status of the
animals used in feeding trials either with conventional or non-conventional feedstuffs; hence, blood analysis
is usually carried out in order to assess the degree of well-being of such animal. A total of ninety (forty-five
males and forty-five females) weaner rabbits with weight ranging from 790-830 grammes were used to
investigate the effect of different feed types on haematological and serum biochemical parameters of weaner
rabbits in first and second phase, respectively. The rabbits were allotted into 10 treatments after weight
equalization on the basis of sex and different dietary groups (100% mash, 100% pellet, 50% mash + 50%
Sunflower leaf, 50% pellet + 50% Sunflower leaf, and 100% Sunflower leaf) in a 2x5 factorial arrangement,
with each treatment consisting of 9 rabbits; each treatment was further subdivided into 3 replicates and 3
rabbits per each replicate. The experiment lasted for 10 weeks. Data were collected on blood profile
(haematology: packed cell volume – PCV, red blood cell counts – RBC, white blood cell counts – WBC,
haemoglobin – Hb, lymphocytes, mean corpuscular and haemoglobin concentration – MCHC; serum
biochemical indices: total serum protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, cholesterol, alkaline phosphate – ALP
and aspartate transferase – AST) at the end of the 6th and 10th weeks of the experiment from one rabbit per
replicate. All data generated were arranged in a 2 × 5 factorial layout and subjected to one-way analysis of
variance in a completely randomized design. Results at 6th week revealed both male and female rabbits fed
combinations of concentrate and sunflower had the highest (p<0.05) red blood cell counts. Total protein
and albumin were highest (p<0.05) in male rabbits than female rabbits. Serum indices of male rabbits fed
100% sunflower had the highest (p<0.05) values of total protein, albumin, urea, and creatinine. At the 10th
week, Packed cell volume and red blood cell were highest (p<0.05) in females fed 100% pellet. Red blood
cells, neutrophils, urea, and creatinine were higher (p<0.05) in males than females. Females fed 100%
pellet had the highest (p<0.05) values of urea, creatinine, and cholesterol. It was concluded that sex had no
detrimental effect on haematological parameters and serum biochemical indices. However, feeding rabbits
100% forage reduced the ability of rabbits to fight infection resulting from reduced lymphocyte