HAEMATOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LOCAL RABBITS FED SIDA ACUTA AND SYNEDRELLA NODIFLORA

Abstract

A 49-day feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding Synedrella nodiflora and Sidaacuta on the haematological parameters of rabbits. A total of nine rabbits were assigned to three experimental diets in a completely randomised design. The experimental diets were Trt1 (100% Synedrella nodiflora), Trt2 (100% Sidaacuta) and Trt3 (50% Synedrella nodiflora and 50% Sidaacuta). Blood samples were taken before the start and after the finish of the feeding trial. Blood parameters considered included haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and white blood cell differential counts (neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes and basophiles). Whereas there were significant differences (P<0.05) between treatments for PCV, Hb, RBC, WBC, and WBC differential counts like neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes, no significant differences (P>0.05) were observed between treatments for MCV, MCH, MCHC, eosinophils and basophiles. Feeding Synedrella nodiflora and Sidaacuta did not produce any noticeable negative effect on the haematological parameters of rabbits since these observations all fell within the normal range reported for rabbits.