Department of Animal Production and Health, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Federal University Wukari, P.M.B 1020, Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria
A 56- day feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding processed Leptadenia hastata leaves on the haematological and biochemical indices of growing rabbits. Thirty (30) growing rabbits (mixed breeds and sexes) with an average weight of 605.40g were used for the experiment. The rabbits were randomly allotted to five experimental groups in a completely randomized design (CRD) replicated three times with six rabbits per treatment. Each group was randomly assigned to one of the diets containing fresh (FSH), hot water processed (HWP), oven-dried (OVD), shade- dried (SHD) and sun- dried (SUD) Leptadenia hastata leaves. The crude protein content ranged from 10.40–15.30%, while the crude fibre ranged from 11.99–13.50%. The nitrogen free extract and ether extract ranged from 52.30–71.51% and 6.50–9.50% respectively. The anti nutritional analysis of the processed leaves showed that FSH contained highest tannin (3.00%), saponin (2.75%) and alkaloid (2.00%) contents while HWP had the least tannin (1.00%), saponin (1.02%) and alkaloid (0.85%). The results of the haematological indices reveals that HWP, OVD, SHD, and SUD diets have significantly (P≤0.05) higher PCV, Hb, MCV, MCH, MCHC and eosinophils. Similarly, the serum biochemical indices which include cholesterol, total protein, albumin and glucose values were also significantly (P≤0.05) higher. Lower values were observed for WBC, lymphocytes, neutrophils and urea in rabbits fed FSH Leptadenia hastata diet. It was concluded that HWP, OVD, SHD and SUD could be used as a processing method to increase the feeding value of Leptadenia hastata leaves.
Haematological, biochemical, processing methods, leptadenia hastata
