EFFECTS OF FEEDING GRADED LEVELS OF ASH SOAKED DEHULLED AFRICAN YAM BEAN (SPHENOSTYLIS STENOCARPA) ON HAEMATOLOGICAL INDICES AND SERUM BIOCHEMICAL PROFILE OF BROILER FINISHER

African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) is a leguminous crop which is cultivated in tropical and subtropical area. The crude protein content of lablab ranges from 23- 29%, while the amino acid profile is similar to that of soyabean, it is a good source of protein, fibre and carbohydrate and contains all the amino acids found naturally in plant protein. However, it is an underutilized legume due the presence of anti-nutritional factors such as trypsin inhibitor, haemaglutinins, saponin, oxalate, phytate, cyanogenic glycosides. A total of 30 weaner rabbits were used for the study to determine the haematological indices and serum biochemical profile of ash-soaked African yam bean. The rabbits were randomly assigned into 5 dietary treatments of 6 rabbits per treatment consisting of 2 replicates of 3 rabbits in a completely randomized design experiment. The seeds used were purchased from Bodija market in Ibadan. The raw African yam bean seeds were pre-treated by soaking at the rate of 1kg/3L of water after which the pre-soaked seeds were soaked in 0.5% wood ash solution for 24hrs. The sample was sundried for 3days milled and then included in the diet accordingly. Rabbits on T1 received the control diet, T2 received 5% level of ash-soaked African yam beans, T3 received 10% level of ask soaked African yam bean, T4 received 15% level of ash-soaked African yam bean and T5 received 20% level of ash-soaked African yam bean. The experiment lasted for eight weeks, at the end of 8 weeks feeding trial two (2) rabbits per replicate were selected and blood samples were collected for haematological indices and serum biochemical profile into a sample bottle. Results showed that there were significant (P<0.05) differences in all the haematological parameters measured except for monocyte. Rabbits on diet 4 had the highest haemoglobin (Hb) value (12.70g/dl), lymphocyte (70.50%) and platelets (252.00) while rabbits on diet 5 had the highest value of PCV (38.00%), white blood cells (WBC) (6.65×103) and eosinophil (4.00%). Rabbits fed diet 2 and 3 are statistically similar in packed cell volume. Statistical similarities exist in haemoglobin value between rabbits fed diet 1 and 2 and between rabbits fed diet 1 and 4. Also, statistical similarities exist in WBC value of rabbits fed diet 1 and diet 4. The serum biochemical profile showed that total protein was not affected by dietary (P<0.05) treatments, albumin, globulin, creatinine, ALT, AST were all significantly affected (P>0.05) by dietary treatments. Rabbits fed diet 1 had the highest value of albumin (3.92g/dl), and AST (67.90IU/L), rabbits fed diet 3 recorded the highest creatinine value (2.08mg/dl) while lowest value was recorded for rabbits on diets 5. The highest value of ALT was recorded for rabbits on diets 2 (35.15iu/l). It was concluded that dehulled African yam bean soaked in wood ash can be fed to rabbits up to 15% level of inclusion without having any negative effects on the haematological indices and serum biochemical profile of weaner rabbits