Effect of varying levels of energy on the performance, haematological and physiological parameters of does

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of varying levels of energy on the performance, haematological and physiological parameters of mated does. Sixteen does were allocated to 4 dietary treatments. Diets 1, 2, 3 and 4 had metabolizable energy levels of 2400kcal/kg, 2500kcal/kg, 2600kcal/kg and 2700kcal/kg respectively, with diet 1 serving as a control diet. Growth performance parameters (body weight gain, feed intake and feed: gain ratio) were measured weekly while haematological (packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb) and total protein (TP) of the does) and blood serum (Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)) parameters were measured at 56 days of age. Increase of dietary energy above recommended levels had varied effects on the does. It generally led to decreased (p<0.05) body weight gain, feed intake, and increased (p>0.05) aspartate amino-transferase, packed cell volume, haemoglobin and total protein values of the does. No significant difference was detected in the Aspartate Aminotransferase. However, blood parameters largely remained within the physiological range. The result obtained in this study suggests that energy level of 2400kcal/kg, ME is adequate for the growth and maintenance of the health of does.

Keywords: Energy levels,Performance,haematology,serum biochemistry, physiology,rabbits