Effect of dietary vitamin E on growth performance of rabbit bucks

Abstract

Growth performance, haematology and serum chemistry of rabbit bucks fed vitamin E was evaluated using 40 crossbred rabbit bucks 7-9 weeks of age weighing 650-800 g. The study involved allocating the bucks to four dietary groups at different inclusion levels of vitamin E/kg feed (00 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg for treatments 1,2,3 and 4 respectively) in a completely randomized design (CRD). The bucks were randomly allocated to four treatments of ten bucks/treatment. Feed and water were provided ad-libitum for sixteen weeks. Other routine management practices were provided as needed. Growth performance, haematology and serum chemistry of the bucks were monitored. Results revealed a significant (P<0.05) difference in final weight gain, average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio, packed cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cell and in some serum biochemical parameters across treatments. There were indications (white blood cell and lymphocyte levels) that the immune system of the bucks in the treatment group were improved more than the control, though this effect is not significant (P>0.05). Bucks in the treatment group performed better than bucks in the control group in all the parameters measured. Hence, including vitamin E to rabbit bucks’ diet to as low as 20 mg/kg and as much as 60mg/kg feed can lead to appreciable improvement in growth, haematology and serum biochemical profile of rabbit bucks.

Keywords: Rabbit, bucks, vitamin E, growth.