Effect of feeding graded levels of dried cauliflower leaf meal on blood biochemical, hormonal and antioxidant profile of rabbits

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cauliflower leaf meal (CLM) supplemented diet on the blood biochemical, hormonal and antioxidant profile of rabbits. A total of eighteen male rabbits weaned at 45 days of age with average body weight 600±0.97 g were randomly divided into three groups with six rabbits in each group. The first group was fed with control feed (T₀), the second (T₁) and the third group (T₂) were fed with 20 and 30% CLM in concentrate mixture, respectively. The duration of the experiment was 90 days. The addition of CLM to concentrate mixture changed the haematological, biochemical, hormonal, and antioxidant parameters. The haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV) and albumin values increased significantly (P<0.05) in T₂ group and globulin in T₁ group as compared to CON. Total cholesterol, serum glucose, glutathione peroxidase and catalase were significantly (P<0.05) decreased in the T₂ group. Serum triiodothyronine (T₃) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were comparable among treatment groups, while tetraiodothyronine (T₄) was found to be significantly (P<0.05) lower in the T₂ group. Serum enzymes like aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alanine amino phosphatase (ALP) were similar among the treatment groups. It can be concluded that the inclusion of CLM at 30% level can efficiently improve the blood biochemical parameters in rabbits without any detrimental effects.