Growth Performance and Haematological Parameters of Rabbit Bucks Fed Elephant Grass (Pennisetum purpureum), Tridax (Tridax procumbens) and Concentrate Feed

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth performance and haematological parameters of rabbit bucks fed diets containing elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum), Tridax (Tridax procumbens) and concentrate feed. The experiment was carried out at the Rabbitry Unit of the Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Ebonyi State. Twelve rabbit bucks were divided into three treatments: T1 (control: 100% concentrate), T2 (50% elephant grass and 50% concentrate), and T3 (50% Tridax and 50% concentrate). The rabbits were fed ad libitum for 10 weeks, with weekly data collection on performance parameters, including body weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio. There were significant (P<0.05) differences in the live weight among the treatments. Rabbit bucks fed Tridax (T3) diet recorded significantly (P<0.05) the highest weight gain compared to other treatments. Rabbit bucks fed 0% (T1) diet recorded the lowest body weight gain. Also there were significant (P<0.05) differences in the haematological parameters among the treatments. Rabbit bucks fed diet T3 (50% Tridax and 50% concentrate) produced the best (P < 0.05) erythrocyte indices, i.e. RBC, PCV, Hb, MCV, MCH and MCHC among all the three treatments followed by rabbit bucks on T2 diet. Keywords: Growth Performance, Rabbit Bucks, Pennisetum purpureum,Tridax procumbens and Haematological Parameters