Growth performance, haematological and serum biochemical parameters of rabbits fed varying dietary levels of soybean milk residue
Abstract
Twenty-five cross breeds rabbits aged between 6 -7 weeks, were used in an experiment to determine the effect of feeding soybean milk residue on the performance, haematological and serum biochemical parameters of growing rabbits. The rabbits were randomly assigned to five treatments, T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 containing 0%, 6%, 12%, 18% and 24% soybean milk residue respectively in a completely randomized design (CRD). Feed and water were offered ad libitum throughout the experimental period and the experiment lasted for 12 weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, 3 rabbits per treatment were slaughtered and blood sample from individual rabbit was collected into labeled Ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) treated tubes for haematological analysis and the blood for serum biochemical evaluation was collected into separate tubes without anticoagulant. The results of the growth performance showed a significant increase in all the parameters measured as the inclusion level of soybean milk residue increases in the diets. Rabbits fed T5 recorded the highest final body weight (1619.28 g) while rabbits fed T1 recorded the lowest value (1410.60 g). Rabbits-fed soybean milk residue diets had a better feed conversion ratio than the control (T1). The haematological parameter measured indicated that packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC) and haemoglobin (Hb) were significantly affected (P<0.05). White blood cell (WBC) count, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were not significantly (p>0.05) different among treatment groups. The serum biochemistry parameters measured revealed that albumin and cholesterol were significantly different (P<0.05) while total protein, globulin, glucose and urea were not affected. It was therefore concluded that soybean milk residue can be included up to 24% in the diets of rabbits without adverse effects on growth performance, haematology, and serum biochemistry of rabbits.
How to Cite This Article
Emmanuel SS, Odunlade TA, Tella AK, Isah A (2023). Growth performance, haematological and serum biochemical parameters of rabbits fed varying dietary levels of soybean milk residue . International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Growth Evaluation (IJMRGE), 4(3), 269-273.