Evaluating growth performance, haematological indices, and serological responses in weaner rabbits fed flesh coontail leaf (Ceratophyllum demersum)
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Effect of fresh coontail leaf (FCL) feeding on growth performance, haematology indices, and serological responses was assessed in weaned rabbits. A total of 120 unsexed crossbred rabbits with an average initial weight of 650 g were allocated to 5 dietary treatment groups with three replicates each and 24 rabbits per group. In a fully randomised design, the inclusion percentages for FCL were (control), 30 %, 50 %, 70 %, or 100 % of the basal diet. The results show that feeding a diet with 50 % FCL significantly improved total weight gain, while complete feeding of FCL decreased total weight gain compared to the control. Feeding FCL at 30, 50, and 70 % of the diet significantly increased total feed intake compared to the control or 100 %FCL feeding. Feed conversion ratio was significantly the best with 50 % FCL of the diet. Haematological measurements indicated that white blood cell (WBC) counts were significantly higher when feeding FCL 30 or 50 % of the diet, red blood cell (RBC) counts were significantly higher when feeding FCL at 30, 50, or 70 % of the diet, while mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was significantly higher when feeding FCL at 50 % of the diet. It could be recommended to feed FCL up to 50 % of the diet to weaning rabbits without a negative effect on growth performance.
Source: Der Tropenlandwirt
Language: English
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W6887678491