Effect of different levels of fluted pumpkin leaf (Telfairia occidentalis) in grower rabbit diets: Assessing growth parameters, haematological profiles, and serological responses

The effect of fluted pumpkin leaf (FPL) on the growth performance, haematology, and serology of growing rabbits were examined. Seventy-five weaned rabbits of Dutch breed, with a mean weight of 513 g, and different sexes were allotted into 5 treatments with 3 replicates and each replicate housing five weaned rabbits. The five treatment diets were formulated to contain FPL at inclusion levels of 0 % (control), 30 %, 50 %, 70 % and 100 % in a completely randomized design. The animals were fed twice daily and given water to drink ad libitum for the fifty-six days (Jan to Mar, 2023) of the feeding trial. The proximate analysis showed that FPL was rich in protein and minerals but low in fibre, hence a good protein and mineral supplement for weaned rabbits in the tropics. The final weight, weight gain, weight gain per day, average weight gain, and feed conversion ratio differed significantly (P<0.05) amongst the rabbits fed the experimental diets. The blood parameters examined included packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular haemoglobin count (MCHC), which differed significantly in comparison (P<0.05). The serum, total protein, albumin, and globulin analysed did not show any significant difference among the treatment. The inclusion of 50% FPL could be efficiently utilised and tolerated by growing rabbits without adversely affecting growth performance and blood profile.