Growth Performance and Haematological Characteristics of Growing Rabbits Fed Concentrates and Forage

Abstract— This study evaluated the haematology and growth performance of growing rabbits fed concentrate diet and forage (Panicum maximum and Gynura aurantiaca). Twenty-four (24) growing rabbits at eight weeks (8) of age comprising of both sexes were randomly assigned to four (4) treatment groups of six (6) animals each and three (3) replicates per treatment with two (2) rabbits per replicate. The rabbits were balanced on initial weight basis. The treatment groups include T1, T2, T3 and T4. T1 (control) had 100 concentrate diet, T2 had 50%:50% of concentrate and Panicum maximum, T3 had 50%:50% of concentrate and Gynura aurantiaca and T4 had 50%:25%:25% of concentrate+Panicum maximum+Gynura aurantiaca respectively. The study was arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) format. The experiment lasted for eight (8) weeks. Pack cell Volume (PCV), Haemoglobin (Hb), Red Blood Cell (RBC), White Blood Cell (WBC), Neutrophil (N), Plateletes (PLT), Lymphocytes (L), Eosinophil (E) and Monocyte values ranged from 29.50 – 42.47%, 9.85 – 14.20%, 4.5 – 6.30%, 5.00 – 8.75%, 23.50 – 41.50%%, 206.00 – 268.50%, 49.00 – 68.52%, 2.50 – 4.00% and 4.00 – 7.50% respectively. Final weight, Weight gain, feed intake and FCR ranged from 1316 - 2108.33, 483.33 – 1008.33, 2554.63 – 3148.50 and 30.19 – 64.13 respectively. Panicum maximum and Gynura aurantiaca inclusion at different levels had a significant (P0.05) effect on haematological characteristics and growth performance of growing rabbits. Forages could be fed at 50%:50 %ratio of concentrate and forage in the diets of growing rabbits. Forages and concentrates is recommended at 50%:50% ratio is the diets of growing rabbits.