Modulating the Hemato-Biochemical Profile and Growth Efficiency of Post-Weaning Rabbits via Clausena anisata Essential Oil Supplementation

Abstract

This research was undertaken to evaluate the effects of feeding weaner rabbits on diet supplemented with Clausena anisate essential oil at different levels. Forty clinically healthy weaned male rabbits about 5 to 6 month of age, with an average initial weight of 720.0 ± 0.71 kg were randomly divided into four dietary groups with ten replicates each The dietary treatments were: (A) basal diet without Clausena anisate oil; (B) basal diet supplemented with 0.3 mL Clausena anisate oil per kg DM feed daily; (C) basal diet supplemented with 0.6 mL Clausena anisate oil per kg DM feed daily; (D) basal diet supplemented with 0.9 mL Clausena anisate oil per kg DM feed daily in a completely randomized design for a duration of 60 days. Feed was provided ad libitum, and clean water was available at all times. Result obtained revealed that Clausena anisate oil increased (p<0.05) body weight gain, feed consumption as well as feed conversion ratio. High Clausena anisate oil treatment increased the concentration of pack cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cell, white blood cell, lymphocytes and monocytes. Clausena anisate oil supplementation decreased (p<0.05) low density lipoprotein concentration and increase total protein, albumin, globulin, high density lipoprotein except urea, creatinine, alanine amino transferase and alanine amino transaminase (p>0.05). It was concluded that the supplementation of Clausena anisate essential oil up to 0.9 mL per kg DM daily improved weight gain, feed consumption and blood constituents of weaner rabbits without causing any deleterious effect on their health status.