Growth Performance and Haematological Indices of Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) Fed Different Forms of Mondia whitei Root
The paper compared haematological indices and growth performance of weaned rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) that were fed on various types of Mondia whitei root. Eighty crossbred rabbits (40 males, 40 females; 11 weeks old) were allocated to eight treatments in a 2 (sex) 4 (forms of Mondia whitei) factorial design with a completely randomized design. The four preparations were; control (no additive), powdered root (PMw, 100g/25kg feed), aqueous extract (AMw, 1 ml/L drinking water), and ethanol extract (EMw, 1 ml/L drinking water). Eight weeks of data on weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and haematological parameters (PCV, Hb, RBC, WBC, neutrophils, lymphocytes, MCV, MCH, MCHC) were obtained and subjected to two ways analysis of variance. The findings indicated that male rabbits gained weight and had better FCR in comparison to females (P<0.05). EMw had the largest weight gain (519.14g), best FCR (3.66), whereas AMw and EMw had significant PCV, Hb, and WBC, relative to control and PMw (P<0.05). There were considerable sex-by-form interactions in weight gain, feed intake, FCR, PCV, Hb, RBC, WBC, MCV and MCH (P<0.05). Ethanol extract of Mondia whitei is suggested as a phytogenic feed supplement with positive effects on growth and haematological conditions of rabbits especially in males.
Keywords: Phytogenic additive, Ethanol extract, Haematology, Feed conversion ratio, Weaned rabbits
