Effect of sundried dandelion (taraxacum officinale) leaf meal (dlm) on growth performance, carcass traits and haematological indices of weaned rabbits
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study evaluated the effect of sun-dried dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) leaf meal (DLM) on the growth performance, carcass traits and haematological indices of weaned rabbits. Using a completely randomized design (CRD), a total of 27 weaned rabbits with a mean initial body weight of 588.75 g, were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments: T1 (0 g/kg DLM), T2 (10 g/kg DLM), and T3 (20 g/kg DLM), with each treatment having three replicates. Growth was monitored; carcass and blood indices were also determined. The feeding trial lasted for sixty-three days and the data were analyzed using one -way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The significant means were compared using the Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT). Result showed that rabbits fed 10 g/kg DLM (T2) diet exhibited significantly (p<0.05) higher final body weight (1657.00 g/rabbit), average daily weight gain (16.96 g/rabbit), and best feed conversion ratio (8.29), relative to other groups. Furthermore, rabbits on T2 showed the highest (p<0.05) live and eviscerated weights, 1540.87 and 892.00 g/rabbit, respectively. The relative cut-up parts: hind limbs, forelimbs, loin, back cut, and rack were statistically similar across the treatments. Haematological assay revealed that rabbits fed 10 g/kg DLM diet had higher (p<0.05) packed cell volume (42 42.00 %) and white blood cell counts (9.40× 10⁹/L). All haematological values remained within normal physiological limits, indicating no negative health effects from DLM inclusion. Incorporating 10 g/kg DLM in weaned rabbit diets enhanced growth, carcass traits, and blood profile. This level is recommended for practical feeding, while further research should assess long-term and reproductive effects on rabbits.
Downloads
Article Details
Issue
Section
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
References
Abdulkarim, A. A., & Jurgen, Z. (2020). Moringa (M. oleifera) leaf meal in diets for broilers & laying hens: A review. Journal of Agricultural Science, 14(10), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v14n10p13
Abdulrazak, N., Umar, A. M., Salisu, I. B., Ubali, S., Mustapha, K., & Zubairu, I. (2024). Haematological characteristics of weaner rabbits fed diets containing graded levels of African wild grape (Lannea microcarpa) leaf meal. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production, 658–662. https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.5371
Aduku, A. O. (1993). Tropical feedstuff analysis table. Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru-Zaria, Nigeria.
Akwa Ibom State Government (AKSG). (2012). Akwa Ibom State: Geography and location. Retrieved from https://www.aksgonline.come/aboutgeography.html
Akwa Ibom State Government. (2024). Akwa Ibom State: Geography and location. Retrieved from https://www.aksgonline.com/aboutgeography.html
AOAC. (2005). Official methods of analysis (18th ed.). Association of Analytical Chemists International, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
AOAC International. (2019). Official methods of analysis of AOAC International (21st ed.). AOAC International.
Ayo-Ajasa, O. Y., Egbeyale, L. T., Abiona, J. A., Ekunseitan, D. A., Ayoola, A. A., Atoyebi, J. F., & Aremu, O. M. (2020). Growth performance, carcass characteristics, haematology and serum biochemistry of rabbit bucks fed diets containing graded levels of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf meal. Nigerian Journal of Animal Science, 22(1), 270–278.
Christopher, G. I., Sam, I. M., & Essien, C. A. (2019). The potential of Monkey Cola (Cola rostrata) seed meal as an alternative source for growing African Giant Snails (Archachatina marginata). Journal of Molluscan Research, 5, 43–49.
Christopher, G. I., Usoro, O. O., & Ekpo, J. S. (2022). Effect of processing on the proximate composition and anti-nutritional contents of Cola rostrata (Monkey Cola) seed. AKSU Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences, 6(2), 1–9.
Christopher, G. I., Ekpo, J. S., Usoro, O. O., & Okon, U. M. (2024a). Histopathology of Wistar albino rats fed raw and processed Cola rostrata (Monkey Cola) seed meal. Animal Research International, 21(2), 5537–5547.
Christopher, G. I., Usoro, O. O., Sam, I. M., & Udoudo, U. S. (2024b). Effect of feeding graded levels of sun-dried Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) on the reproductive performance of crossbred rabbit does in southern Nigeria. AKSU Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences, 8(2), 185–194.
Coles, E. H. (1986). Veterinary clinical pathology (4th ed.). W. B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, 17–19.
Driessen, B., Freson, L., & Buyse, J. (2020). Fasting finisher pigs before slaughter influences pork safety, pork quality and animal welfare. Animals, 10(12), 2206. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10122206
Duncan, D. B. (1955). Multiple range and F-test. Biometrics, 11, 1–24.
Ekpo, J. S., Sam, I. M., Udo, M. D., & Christopher, G. I. (2022). Meat quality and sensory evaluation of pork from pigs fed pro-vitamin A cassava leaf meal, pumpkin stem and moringa leaf meal as dietary supplements. AKSU Journal of Agriculture and Food Science, 6, 10–23.
Evans, E. I., Usoro, O. O., & Essien, C. A. (2023). Growth performance and apparent nutrient digestibility coefficient of weaned rabbits fed sun-dried cassava peel meal as replacement for maize. Nigerian Journal of Animal Science, 25(1), 84–93.
Fan, M., Zhang, X., Song, H., & Zhang, Y. (2023). Dandelion (Taraxacum genus): A review of chemical constituents and pharmacological effects. Molecules, 13, 5022. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28135022
Fayrouz, A. K., Marfoua, S. A., & Hamida, S. R. (2019). Influence of ascorbic acid supplementation on hematological parameters and free radical in adult male rabbits. Saudi Journal of Biomedical Research (SJBR), 4(5), 244–247. https://doi.org/10.21276/sjbr.2019.4.5.9
Harcourt-Brown, F. (2002). Textbook of rabbit medicine. Butterworth-Heinemann, Linacre House, Jordan Hill, Oxford, UK.
Harkness, J. E., Turner, P. V., VandeWoude, S., & Wheler, C. L. (2010). Harkness and Wagner's biology and medicine of rabbits and rodents. John Wiley & Sons.
Hien, T. Q., Hoan, T. T., Khoa, M. A., Kien, T. T., & Trung, T. Q. (2017). The effect of some leaf meal kinds as a supplement in the basal diet on Luong Phuong broiler performance. Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science, 23(4), 617–624.
Igila, T. T., Bello, K. M., & Kalla, D. J. U. (2020). Nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics of weaner rabbits fed dried cabbage leaf meal. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production, 1484–1487. https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.5806
Jain, N. C. (1993). Essentials of veterinary hematology. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, 76–250.
Kania-Dobrowolska, M., & Baraniak, J. (2022). Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale L.) as a source of biologically active compounds supporting the therapy of co-existing diseases in metabolic syndrome. Foods, 11(18), 2858. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11182858
Kassem Makki, E. C., Deehan, J., Walter, J., & Backhed, F. (2018). The impact of dietary fibre on gut microbiota in host health and disease. Cell Host and Microbe, 23(6), 46–53.
Lebas, F., Coudert, P., de Rochambeau, H., & Thebault, R. G. (1997). The rabbit: Husbandry, health and production. FAO Animal Production and Health Series No. 21.
Marinou, K. A., & Dontas, I. A. (2023). European Union legislation for the welfare of animals used for scientific purposes: Areas identified for further discussion. Animals (Basel), 13(14), 2367. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13142367
Martí, L., Latorre, M. Á., & Álvarez-Rodríguez, J. (2019). Does ad libitum feeding during the peri-partum improve the sow feed intake and performances? Animals (Basel), 9(12), 1078. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9121078
Mmadu, D. U., Abubakar, M. M., Kalla, D. J., Doma, U. D., & Agishi. (2020). Effect of varying levels of Moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf meal on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of weaner rabbits. Proceedings of the 45th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Society for Animal Production, 15–19 March, Bauchi, 1493–1496. https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.5809