The performance and hematological indices of growing rabbit fed sessilis joyweed (Alternanthera sessilis) and tridax daisy (Tridax procumbens)

The performance and blood constituents of growing rabbits fed varying ratios of Alternanthera sessilis (Sessilis joyweed; AS) and Tridax procumbens (Tridax Daisy; TP) were evaluated. Thirty growing male rabbits with initial body weight ranging from 617.50g to 657.50g were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments, each comprising six animals housed individually in a completely randomized design. The experimental diets were as follows: T1 (100%AS), T2 (75%AS+25%TP), T3 (50%AS+50%TP), T4 (25% AS+75%TP) and T5 (100%TP). The experiment lasted for seven weeks, during which data on feed intake, body weight gain, hematological indices and serum biochemical parameters were collected and analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. The results indicated that dietary treatments had no significant effect (P>0.05) on performance parameters, except for average daily feed intake (ADFI). Rabbits fed T1 and T4 recorded the highest ADFI (96.49 and 96.01 g/day respectively), whereas those on T3 and T5 showed the lowest values. The best (lowest) feed conversion ratio (5.79) was observed in rabbits fed T4. Rabbits on T4 exhibited the highest packed cell volume (32.00%), hemoglobin concentration (10.20 g/dL), red blood cell count (5.64×106/µL), platelet count (140.00×10³/µL), and white blood cell count (32.50×10²/µL). In addition, significantly higher (P<0.05) serum total protein (7.00 g/dL), albumin (2.90 g/dL) and globulin (4.10 g/dL) levels were recorded in rabbits fed T4 compared with other treatments. It can be concluded that the dietary combination of 25%AS+75%TP produced the most favorable performance and blood profile in growing rabbits. This suggests that Alternanthera sessilis can serve as a viable alternative forage resource Tridax procumbens in rabbit nutrition. Keywords: Blood, Forage, Rabbit, Performance, Sessilis joyweed, Tridax daisy.