Effect of graded levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal on serum biochemical parameters of growing male New Zealand white rabbits

Abstract

Sixteen (16) growing male New Zealand White rabbits aged 3-4 months were used to determine the effect of graded levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) on serum biochemical parameters. The rabbits were randomly assigned to four dietary treatment groups (T1, T2, T3 and T4; 4 rabbits/treatment; 1 rabbit/replicate) in a Complexly Randomized Design (CRD). Treatment one (T1) or control contained 0.00 % Moringa oleifera leaf meal while T2 to T4 contained 5.00, 10.00 and 15.00 % MOLM, respectively. The rabbits were fed twice daily (in the morning and evening) while water was provided ad libitum. After 60 days of the feeding trial, blood samples were randomly collected from three rabbits in each treatment group for serum biochemical evaluation of urea, cholesterol, calcium, glucose, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase. The results showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) among the treatment groups in all the serum biochemical parameters measured. The findings from this study indicated that the serum biochemical parameters of grower male New Zealand white rabbits could be affected positively when fed feed supplemented with 5.0% or more of Moringa oleifera leaf meal.