HEMATOLOGY AND SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY OF WEANER RABBITS FED GRADED LEVEL OF RICE OFFAL AS A REPLACEMENT FOR WHEAT OFFAL

Abstract

Due to increase in animal protein consumption and underutilization of agro-industrial by-products, necessitated this research to determine the hematological and serum biochemistry of a weaner rabbits fed graded levels of rice offal as a replacement for wheat offal. The experiment lasted for fifty-six (56) days which involve 48 weaner rabbits six weeks of age with average weight of 1.5kg. Standard management, feed and water were given to the experimental animals following their arrival to the point of terminating the feeding trial. Blood of the rabbits were collected through the ear vein using syringe and needle and stored in an EDTA container for hematology and plain container for serum biochemistry. The proximate composition of the experimental diets was conducted using standard procedures of (AOAC, 2023). The hematology and serum biochemistry analysis were carried out using Martino al., (2012). Adopted procedures the results of proximate composition show no significant (P>0.05) difference in all the parameters except in crude fiber and ash which significant (P>0.05) difference. The hematological parameters results revealed no significant (P>0.05) difference in all the parameters tested except in neutrophils and mean corpuscular volume were significantly (P>0.05) difference. A non-significant (P<0.05) difference serum biochemistry in all the parameters tested except in urea and globulins were there were significant (P>0.05) difference. In conclusion the rice offal revealed a higher crude fiber and an elevated white blood cell, mean corpuscular volume and moderate serum biochemistry of the parameters tested which has no effect in in cooperation into the diets of monogastric especially Rabbits.