ABSTRACT

A feeding trial was conducted using fifteen cross bred grower rabbits (New Zealand White and Chinchilla) of mixed sexes averaging 850g to evaluate the growth performance, haematology, biochemical and carcass quality of the rabbits fed graded levels of Gomphrena celosioides forage in their diets. The rabbits were divided into five treatments with three replicates per treatment arranged in a CRD. T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5represent 0%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% inclusion levels of the test ingredient (Gomphrena celosioides) respectively. Feed and water were given ad libitum. The experiment lasted for 28 days. The experiment reveals that for all the growth parameters measured, there were significant differences (P <0.05). The haematology and biochemical parameters of the rabbits revealed that there was no significant difference (P>0.05) among the treatment means in terms of RI3C and SGOT. But PCV, WBC, HB, SGPT were significantly different (P<O.05). Carcass quality reveals that all parts showed significant difference (P<0.05) except the drumstick. The result obtained from organ analysis were significantly different (P<zO.05) except the spleen, which did not follow specific pattern that could be attributed to the effect of the test ingredient. Considering the growth performance especially the weight gain and feed conversion ratio, carcass parameters, haematology and biochemical parameter from T3 with 30% level of inclusion of Gomphrena celosioides is recommended.