PRODUCTIVITY AND BLOOD BIOCHEMICHAL CHANGES IN RABBITS FED MORINGA OLEIFERA LEAVES MEAL AS AN UNTRADITIONAL SOURCE OF PROTEIN UNDER NORTH SINAI CONDITIONS

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of feeding Moringa oleifera leaves meal (MOLM) on productivity of growing rabbits and some related blood changes. Forty five weaned New Zealand White rabbits of both sexes aged 6 weeks and weighted 800 ± 39 g were randomly divided into three groups (15 each). Rabbits were fed diets containing 0%, 3% and 6% MOLM as substitute of alfalfa hay and soybean meal at (2:1) as T0, T3 and T6, respectively. The experimental diets were iso-nitrogenous (16.2 % CP) and iso-caloric (2530 kcal DE/kg diet). All the experimental diets were formulated to cover the nutrient requirements of rabbits. The experimental diets and fresh water were supplied ad-libitum throughout the experimental period (8 wk). Results revealed that inclusion of MOLM in rabbit diets did not significantly affected either feed intake, feed conversion or carcass traits. Albumin and ALT significantly affected due to MOLM feeding. Similarly, Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), platelets counts, white blood cells (WBC), neutrophils and segmented cells were significantly affected by dietary treatment. MCV and MCH were decreased, however, platelet counts, WBC, neutrophils and segmented cells were increased (P<0.05) in rabbits fed MOLM diet compared to control. There were no significant differences among dietary treatments in blood hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBCs) mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations (MCHC) and basophils. All blood biochemical and hematological parameters were within the normal range for healthy rabbits. Therefore, it can be concluded that inclusion of Moringa oleifera leaves meal in the diets of weaned New Zealand White rabbits up to 6% under North Sinai conditions had no adverse effects on its productivity and their blood profile. Moreover, these substitutions had not any bad effects on peripheral sings of health or internal sings, kidney, liver or blood characteristics of NZW rabbits.