Growth Performance and Haematological Indices of Rabbit Bucks Fed Different Supplemental Levels of Dried Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) Fruit Meal

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dried date palm fruit meal (DDFM) supplementation on growth performance and haematological parameters in rabbit bucks. A total of thirty-six (36) male rabbits were utilized and randomly assigned to four (4) treatment groups in a completely randomized design, with three replicates per treatment and three rabbits per replicate, over a 24-week experimental period. Four experimental diets were formulated to incorporate DDFM at 0.00, 0.50, 1.00, and 1.50%, corresponding to treatment groups T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively. Growth performance data collected included initial and final body weights, total and daily weight gains, total and daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio. At the conclusion of the feeding trial, blood samples were obtained from each replicate for comprehensive haematological analyses. Data collected were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS version 21. The results revealed that DDFM did not have significant effect (p>0.05) on all the growth parameters evaluated. However, some haematological parameters were significantly influenced by DDFM supplementation in the bucks’ diets. Bucks fed 1.00% (7.23 ×109/dL), and 1.50% (7.50 ×109/dL) supplemental levels of DDFM respectively, recorded higher values of WBC when compared to those of bucks fed 0.00% (6.00 ×109/dL) and 0.50% (5.97 ×109/dL). From the results obtained in the study, DDFM at these levels does not have significant effect on growth parameters in rabbit bucks, but can be supplemented at 1.00% in bucks’ diet to improve some haematological indices and overall health in rabbit bucks.