Dietary Effects of Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena celosioides) Leaf Meal on Growth Performance, Haematopoietic Characteristics, Hormonal Profile and Reproductive Performance of Rabbits Reared by Rural Farmers in Nigeria

This study evaluated the effects of globe amaranth leaf meal (GALM) - based diets on the growth performance, blood characteristics, hormonal profile and reproductive performance of rabbits. Forty growing rabbits (mean body weight: 1500±0.02 g/rabbit) were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments after equalizing for body weight and sex using a completely randomized design (CRD), with eight rabbits per treatment. Experimental diets were formulated such that dietary treatments T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 had 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% GALM inclusion levels, respectively. The rabbits were subjected to 60 days initial feeding trial after initial 14 days adjustment period for the determination of growth performance traits, during which blood was collected at the commencement and at the end of the feeding trial for haematopoietic assays. Thereafter, rabbits were allowed to attain sexual maturity and kept further for another 60 days for evaluation of reproductive performance. All results were subjected to one- way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significant mean values were separated. Results showed that growth performance traits showed no significant (p>0.05) effect of dietary treatments, GALM did not depress feed intake (66.23 – 69.23 g/rabbit/day) and weight gain (8.59 – 10.49 g/rabbit/day) and no mortality was recorded. The haematological parameters showed significant (p<0.05) effect of diets, except for white blood cell counts (7.74-8.64 ×109/L), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (21.20-26.00 pg) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (37 – 38 g/dl) at the end of the feeding trial. All haematological parameters were within normal clinical ranges for healthy rabbits. Serum biochemical indices showed significant (p<0.05) effect of diets on most parameters, except aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (21.00 – 28.33 IU), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (17.00- 19.67 IU) and triglycerides (1.60 – 1.90 mmol/L) at the end of the feeding trial compared to the baseline values. The hormonal profile showed significant (p<0.05) differences between dietary treatments, except estradiol (46.50 – 49.50 pg/L). Reproductive performance traits of rabbits were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by diets in terms of litter size at birth (1.00 - 3.50) and average birth weight of kittens (151.60 - 295.00 g/kitten). Reproductive performance was not depressed. The study concluded that globe amaranth leaf meal (GALM) up to 20 % inclusion levels in diets could enhance feed intake and weight gain, blood characteristics, hormonal profile and reproductive performance of rabbits. Agricultural extension agents should educate rabbit farmers on the feeding potentials of globe amaranth leaf meal and the recommended level of inclusion. Key words: Globe amaranth, blood, environment, extension, growth, hormone, rabbit, reproduction