Haematology and Serum Biochemical Profile of Weaner Rabbits Fed Yam Peels at Graded levels as a Replacement for Maize

Serum haematology and biochemical profile of weaner rabbits fed graded levels of yam peels replacing maize were evaluated. The experiment which lasted fifty-six days using 15 weaner rabbits was laid in a randomized complete block design using five dietary treatments with three replications each. The dietary treatments evaluated were 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 0% inclusion level of yam peels replacing maize. Results revealed significant (P<0.05) differences in all the parameters evaluated except for the white blood cells, lymphocytes and globulin. The results obtained did not follow any pattern except chloride levels which had significant (P<0.05) decrease across all the treatments (88.00 – 72.00 mmol/L). Higher values were obtained from the control-based diet in the haematological and serum electrolytes profile. While higher values were obtained in animals fed 20% inclusion of the test ingredient for globulin (32.00 g/L), total cholesterol (3.00 mmol/L), high density lipoproteins (1.00 mmol/L), alkaline phosphatase (3.50 U/L), alanine amino transferase (8.00 U/L) and aspartate amino transferase (10.00 U/L). It is concluded that there is no adverse effects of the yam peels diet on the experimental animals across all dietary treatments. It is however recommended that more studies should be carried out on the optimum inclusion levels and its suitability in other classes of rabbit.