Performance and cost-benefits of weaner rabbits fed graded levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal

Moringa has been acclaimed to be beneficial especially in livestock production. Its leaves and green fresh pods are said to be rich in carotene and ascorbic acid with a good profile of amino acids while its twigs are reported to be very palatable to ruminants and have appreciable crude protein levels. However, Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) has been observed to contain higher pepsin and total soluble protein than other parts of the plant which makes it more suitable to monogastric animals. MOLM has been widely used in poultry production but with limited use in rabbits� diets; hence this study was conducted to determine the performance of weaner rabbits fed graded levels of MOLM. A total of 48 unsexed weaner rabbits of mean initial weight of 744.56�29.25 g were assigned to 4 experimental diets, namely T1, T2, T3 and T4 containing 0%, 15%, 30% and 45% MOLM, respectively, having 3 replicates and 4 animals per replicate. The results showed that the dry matter intake of T1-T4 ranged 53.17 - 55.31g/day. Though not significant, highest crude protein digestibility coefficient was recorded for experimental animals on diet T4 (71.36%) followed by diets T1 (69.67%), T2 (69.17%), T3 (68.25%), respectively. The keel length for T1, T2, T3, and T4 rabbits were 225.39, 201.64, 246.66 and 217.26cm, respectively Rabbits fed 30% MOLM were found to be most profitable numerically (N1320.10) while the least profit was obtained with 0% MOLM with N1305.40. Hence, it can be concluded that Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) can replace soya bean meal up to 45% in the nutrition of weaner rabbits

Pre and post-gestation blood indices of rabbit does fed graded levels of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf meal

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of neem leaf meal on the blood status of rabbit does before and after gestation. A total of twenty-four (24) rabbit does of mixed breeds, with initial average live weight of 1975g were randomly allocated into four (4) experimental dietary treatments; each of which was replicated three (3) times with two (2) rabbits per replicate. The rabbits were fed diets containing 0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, and 7.5% neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf meal. Parameters measured included packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin, red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC) and its differentials for haematology while total protein, globulin, albumin, cholesterol, alkaline phosphate (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured for biochemical indices. All data generated were subjected to one-way Analysis of Variance in a Completely Randomized Design. The findings from this study at pre-gestation showed that neem leaf meal (NLM) significantly (p<0.05) influenced basophil and serum total protein, globulin and glucose. Basophil was significantly reduced in rabbits fed 5.0% NLM (0.33%) while the serum components were affected in rabbits fed 2.5% NLM. The result at postgestation showed no significant (p>0.05) difference in all the parameters measured exceptneutrophils. Neutrophils were significantly (p<0.05) reduced in rabbits on the control diet (26.67%) while rabbits on NLM diets recorded similar values. From the serum component, cholesterol was significantly (p<0.05) highest in rabbits fed 5.0% NLM (62.33mg/dL) and lowest in those fed 2.5% NLM (49.67mg/dL). It was, therefore, concluded that inclusion of NLM in rabbit does' diet up to 7.5% had no adverse effect on the health status of the animals as the values obtained for neutrophils and cholesterol were still within the normal range of rabbit blood profile

Effect of Moringa oleifera leaf meal on haematological parameters, serum biochemical indices and haemagglutination potential of broiler birds raised on deep litters

Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) was included in broiler chickens’ diets at graded levels of 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% to make 5 treatments to assess haematology, serum biochemistry and haemagglutination potential in broiler chickens fed the experimental diets. The diets were formulated to be iso-caloric and isonitrogenous. Two hundred (200) day-old Cobb broiler chicks were randomly allotted to the treatments in a completely randomized design having 10 birds and four replications per treatment. Water and feed were given ad libitum. Blood samples were collected from the animals through the wing vein for haematology, serum biochemistry and haemagglutination potential. The results showed that packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC), neutrophils, lymphocytes, monophils and eosinophils were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by the different inclusion levels of MOLM. Highest mean of PCV and RBC was recorded at 15% level of inclusion (28.63±1.19% and 3.66±0.16% respectively). The serum proteins examined were not significantly (p>0.05) affected by the dietary treatments except cholesterol which was significantly (p<0.05) affected by different levels of inclusion. It was concluded that inclusion of Moringa oleifera up to 20% in the diet of broiler chickens can be adopted to replace soybean meal without any adverse effect on blood indices