GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND HAEMATOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WEANLING WISTAR RATS FED CAELIFERA SUPPLEMENTED DIETS

Abstract

This research was conducted to determine the growth performance and haematological status of rats fed with Caelifera-supplemented weaning diets. Twenty four (24) weanling albino rats with mean weight of 39.27g ± 0.3g were divided into four (4) groups of equal average weight and randomly assigned to four experimental diets. Diet C (control) was Nestle wheat Cerelac. Diet A contained Rheum australe (45%), Caelifera (12.5%) Daucus carota (10%), Glycine max (30%), and sucrose (2.5%) while diets W and M respectively contained Triticum aestivum and Pennisetum glaucum instead of Rheum austral. The rats were fed ad libitum for six weeks. Proximate compositions of the diets, growth and haematological parameters were determined using standard methods. The results revealed that ash content of Diet A (0.630 ± 0.04), Diet W (0.287±0.01), and Diet M (0.490 ± 0.03) were significantly (p<0.05) lower than that of the control (3.250 ± 0.01). The protein contents of these diets were however significantly (p<0.05) higher compared to the control. Although there was no significant (p>0.05) variations in the average weekly feed intake, the rats fed test diets had significantly (p<0.05) higher feed conversion ratio and lower average weekly weight gain. The rats fed with the test diets had significantly (p<0.05) lower PCV, Hb and MCHC concentrations. It could be drawn from the findings that the diets, even when supplemented with Caelifera may not be as good as Nestle Cerelac. It is therefore recommended that the test diets be fortified with minerals in order to raise their nutritional status