Growth, Physiological, Hematological and Biochemical Responses of Growing Rabbits to Various Feeding Levels of Leucaena

Abstract

Twenty rabbits. each of Ncw Zcaland White and Soviet Chinchilla breed.
aged 12 week. were divided into four uniform groups. The first group was kept
as control; in next three groups concentrate feed was substituted with 20. 40. and
60% leueaena leaves (on dry matter basis). Leucaena leaves after initial rejection
were readily consumed within one week. Highest average daily weight gain was
recorded ] 8.88±1.18 g under T, and the corresponding daily OM intake was
114.56±2.85 g. The treatment had a significant (1'<0.05) effect on growth. dry
matter intake, haemoglobin. packed cell volume. red blood corpuscles. white blood
corpuscles. mean cell volume. albumin. iron. cholesterol. urea. creatinine. calcium
and phosphorus levels in the blood of rabbits. No acute. toxicity was observed
during the experiment. however. rabbits under fourth group (T4) showed poor appetite.
alopecia (loss of hair). depressed growth rate and dry matter intake. It was recommended
that leueaena leaves may be added up to 40% level in rabbit diet. thereby minimizing
the feed cost.