Haematological and serum biochemical response of rabbit to varying inclusion levels of clove (Syzygium aromaticum)

Abstract

Cloves come from a group of aromatic plants that are used widely due to its positive effect on growth and health of rabbits probably as a result of their immune stimulatory properties. An experiment was conducted on twelve rabbits of 5months of age. The experiment was carried out at the rabbitary unit of Animal Production Technology at The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic Saki (TOPS). The animals were fed diets containing clove powder to determine the effect on the biochemical response of the rabbits. The twelve rabbits were divided into three treatments with four replicates in a completely randomized design. Dietary levels of 0.0g, 0.5g and 1.0g of clove powder were given orally to the rabbits, the experiment lasted for 8 weeks. Blood samples were collected from the lateral saphenous vein at the end of the experiment to evaluate haematological and biochemical parameters. Data collected on haematological and biochemical parameters were subjected to one way analysis of variance. Haemaological parameters evaluated were: Packed Cell Volume, Red Blood Cell, White Blood Cell and Haemoglobin Count while biochemical parameters evaluated were: Total protein, Globulin, Aspartate aminotransferase, Alanine aminotransferase, Blood urea nitrogen, Creatinine and trimethylglycine shows significant (P<0.05) difference while parameters such as Albumin, Alkaline phosphatase, Cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, Low density lipoprotein and Albumin: Globulin shows no significant difference. It was concluded that up to 1.0g of clove can be included in rabbit’s diet without any detrimental effect on their health status.