ABSTRACT

Twenty-four (24) 6-week old rabbits of average initial weight of 700g were used to determine the performance and haernatological status of rabbits fed graded levels of soaked pigeon pea seed (Cajanus cajan) meal diets. The rabbits were of both sexes and randomly assigned to four treatment diets in a completely randomized design experiment (CRD). Each treatment was replicated three (3) times with each replicate having two (2) rabbits. The rabbits were fed with the treatment diets containing 0, 5, 1 0 and 1 5% levels of soaked pigeon pea seed meal respectively. The study lasted for 8 weeks. The rabbits were weighed at the start of the experiment and subsequently on a weekly basis. Parameters that were measured included weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency and feed conversion ratio. 2m1s of blood was collected from the rabbits on treatment basis and was analysed. The results showed that there were no significant differences (P>0.05) among the treatment diets in all the performance parameters measured. The hematological status of the animal was also not significantly different. The quantitative replacement of soyabean meal with soaked pigeon pea seed meal was best at 10% when the growth performance of the growing rabbit were compared at this level, also there was normal diet effects on blood constituents.