ABSTRACT

A total of 24 multiparous New Z 'aland White rabbit does aged 7 months were used to investigate the effect of biotin on the reproduction and blood profile of the rabbits. The experiment  was a completely randomized design with four treatments. The treatment ts consisted of graded levels of biotin supplemented at 0 j.tg, 50j.ig, 100ug and l50jtg; these were respectively represented as T1, T2, T3and T4. ;ix (6) does were randomly assigned to each treatment. The results of the study showed no significant differences (P>0.05) in the body weight of the :Joes at the different physiological states. There were significant differences (P<0.05) between the different treatments in number of mating to conception and percentage mortality with T3(8.66) and 14(8.66) being lower than T1(19.18) and 12 (11.50). litter size at birth were significantly higher (P>0.05) br 1')(6.00) and 14 (6.00), than T1(4.12) and f2 (4.52). Also litter size at weaning followed the same trend. There were no significant differences in litter birth weight of the different groups. The litter weight at weaning was significant (P<0.05) among the treatment groups, increasing with increase in i he level of biotin. With the exception of Hb, PCV and monocytes, the rest o the haematological parameters showed no significant differences (P>O.05;. Of all the biochemical indices, only globulin was significantly different between the treatments with T1 (45.70) being lower than T2(62.22), T3(62.82) and T4 (68.45). the results showed that biotin inclusion to 150jg 1evl in the diets of does had no adverse effects on the reproductive, biochmical and haematological profiles of rabbit, nor their kits as demonstrate in T4with 150p.g since this treatment produced the best result in the study.