Vol 5(3) March’15

International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277-1964 ONLINE

The Haematological Profile of Adult Buck Rabbits Exposed To Graded Levels of Cyathula
Prostrata (Pasture Weeds) In Southern Nigeria

Ajuogu, P.K.,1 Ironkwe M.O.,1 Timi S.,3 Wekhe S.N.,1Yahaya, M.A2 , and ,Ere E.R.1
1
Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, ,Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt,
P.M.B.5323 East west road Choba, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
2
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Rivers State University of Science Technology,
Nkpolu-Orowurukwu Diobu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
3
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Niger Delter University, Amasoma, Yenegua,
Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author: peter.ajuogu@uniport.edu.ng

Rec. Date: Nov 12, 2014 04:15

Accept Date: Jan 25, 2015 01:45
Published Online: January 29, 2015
DOI 10.5455/ijlr.20150125014531

Abstract
The study was to investigate the influence of graded levels of Cyathula prostrata (pasture weed) on
hematological parameters of adult buck rabbits. Sixteen (16) adult New Zealand white buck rabbits were
randomly allocated into four dietary experimental groups of A (control- free of the additive plant), B, C
and D in a Completely Randomized Experimental Design (CRD) and fed graded levels of Cyathula
prostrata as follows A (0g/kg), B(10g/kg), C(20g/kg) and D (30g/kg) incorporated into proprieted
concentrate rabbit growers feed respectively. The study lasted for eight (8) weeks, after which, blood
samples were collected from the bucks, and analyzed for hematological parameters. From the results, the
effects on the hematological parameters revealed significant difference (P<0.05) on packed cell volume
(PCV), Hemoglobin (HB) and Red blood cells (RBC) amongst the treatment groups. But no significant
deference were observed in WBC and Eosinophils (P>0.05). It was therefore concluded that Cyathula
prostrata is safe for use as feed additive and holds promise of enhancing production in commercial rabbit
production.
Key words: Haematological Parameters, Buck Rabbit, Cyathula Prostrata

Introduction

Rabbit is a non-ruminant herbivore or pseudo-ruminants. They are hind gut fermenters and its digestive
system is well adapted for the digestion of large quantity of forage typical of herbivorous diet.

Cyathula prostrate is a weed of cultivated forest areas in West Africa, common in oil palm and rubber
plantations (Ivens et al., 1978). It is a plant that is used for the control of human diseases such as diarrhea,
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eczema, treatment of eye-troubles, nausea, and bloody vomit and a decoction of the roots is given for
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dysentery (Kumar, 2002). It is a slender herbaceous prostrate plant with branches 1-2ft high. The plant is

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well known for its medicinal value as a good appetizer and for curing of dysentery, diarrhea and skin
diseases (Regharendra et al., 2005).It is now common knowledge that feeds constitute the greatest and
most costly input in any livestock farm, especially poultry. Any significant reduction in the cost of feeds
will significantly reduce the overall cost of production and increase the profit margin of the farm (Owen
and Amakiri, 2011). Due to high cost of the conventional protein ingredients like groundnut cake and
soybeans, the thrust of nutritional research is now towards identifying non-conventional sources with
lower human demands (Owen, et al., 2009). To avert these effects, several strategies including dietary
manipulation including the use of plants (herbs) as fed additive to improve animal productivity ( Wekhe
and Njoku 2002, Yahaya, 2010; Ukpai, et al., 2011; Owen and Amakiri, 2011).And one of the measure to
determine the additive influence is by assessing the haematological profile of the the test animal.

Blood chemistry studies are usually undertaken to establish the diagnostic baseline of blood
characteristics for routine management practices of farm animals (Onyeyilli, et al., 1992; Tambuwal et
al., 2002). Blood chemistry constituents reflect the physiological responsiveness of the animals to internal
and external environments, which include temperature and humidity effects on young pigs (Pederson et
al., 2003), housing and feeds and feeding (Pederson, et al., 2000). It has also been established that certain
haematological factors can be associated with certain production traits. For examples, high packed cell
volume (PCV) and high haemoglobin content (HB) are associated with high feed conversion efficiency
(Mitruka and Rawnsley, 1997), while high percentage of lymphocytes helps the animal to perform well
under stressful conditions.

The plant is chosen for this study to determine its additive effect on the hematological parameters of adult
buck rabbits.

Materials and Methods

The sixteen (16) adults buck rabbits used in the work were New Zealand white breed, procured from
Agricultural Development Project (ADP) Abuja, aged between 8-10 months with an average weight of
1.0kg-1.5kg. The rabbits were housed in a standard type single tier hutches in rabitry section of Rivers
State University of Science and Technology Teaching Research Farm Port Harcourt. The study lasted for
ten (10) weeks out of which two (2) weeks were used for stabilization period.

Whole fresh Cyathula prostrata plants were harvested from Riverin area of Mbiama in Bayelsa State,
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Nigeria. The whole plant (seeds, leaves, stems and roots) sun dried and reduced powdered form by local
grinding machine. Thereafter, were grounded to powder using grinding machine for easy application
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(Wekhe and Njoku, 2002).

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Completely randomized design (CRD) was employed in this study were in sixteen (16) adults buck
rabbits were randomly allocated into four (4) treatment groups (A,B,C and D) of four (4) bucks per
group, and each group comprised of four replicate with one buck per replicate. Bucks in treatment A,
were used as control, while those in treatments B, C and D were fed diets containing Cyathula prostrata
powder at the dosage rates of 10g, 20g and 30g per kilogram of feed daily.

Blood samples were collected at the end of the experiment through the ear vein of the experimental bucks
in all the replicates, and decanted into EDTA fortified sample bottles and immediately submitted to
Rivers State University of Science and Technology for Haematological analysis. Haematological
parameters and blood chemistry were determined as described by [Dacie and Lewis, 1991]. The results of
the mean Haematological Profiles were subjected to one way analysis of variance and the means
separated using LSD according to Steel and Torrie (1980).
Results

The influence of graded levels of the test additive Cyathula prostrate on the haematolgoical indices of
adults buck rabbits were presented in table 2.

Significant differences (P <0.05) existed due to treatment influences on Hb, RBC, PCV, Neutrophil and
lymphocytes parameters evaluated. The results obtained for total WBC and eosinophils revealed no
significant (P >0.05) influence amongst the treatment groups. Though slight increase in numerical values
were observed in eosinophils between the treatment groups.

The treatment effects on HB, RBC lymphocytes and PCV shows that, treated groups B(36.50) and
D(35.25) recorded higher means values followed by treated groups C(29.50), while the control group of
the above measured indices recorded the least mean values (25.50) Table 2. Treatment group B and D had
better HB profile than group C and A respectively. RBC profile was highest in treatment group D
seconded by group B, whilst group C and the control (A) were statistically the same. The result on the
mean Neutrophils profile of the control group, were significantly better (P < 0.05) than other groups,
while treated groups B, C and D means values were statistically the same (P > 0.05). Lymphocytes
profiles were significantly (P < 0.05) better in groups B, C, and D than group A (Table 2) respectively.

Discussion
Blood circulates in the vessels of man and animals, transporting oxygen from respiratory organs to body
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cells, carrying nutrients to the tissue cells and excretory products through kidney, guts, lungs, liver and
skin, and maintaining haemostatic (Akinmutimi, et al., 2004). ). Blood chemistry constituents reflect the
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physiological Responsiveness of the animals to internal and external environments of which Include feed

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additives (Yahaya 2010; Owen and Amakiri, 2011), temperature and humidity (Pederson, et al., 2003;
Ajuogu et al., 2010).
Table 1: Influence of Cyathula Prostrata on Haematological Parameters
Treatments
Parameters
A (Control) B(10g/kg) C (20g/kg) D (30g/kg)
PCV 25.50+1.19c 36.502+.90a 29.501+.75c 35.250+.48ab
HB 8.68+0.11c 12.050+.84a 9.750+.61c 11.0+60.14b
c b
RBC 7.230+.10 9.130+.36 7.750+.23c 10.58+0.36a
WBC 6.680+.11 6.98 0+.37 6.680+.23 6.850+.09
Neutrophyls 30.25+8.41a 15.001+.78b 15.25+1.11b 14.252+.17b
Lymphocytes 69.25+8.22b 83.752+.53a 82.002+.80a 85.252+.62a
Eosinophyles 1.75+1.387 1.251+.37 2.751+.37 0.501+.37
Mean +SD in the same row with different superscript differs significantly (P < 0.05)

The significant effect (P <0.05) observed in Hb, RBC, PCV showed that Cyathula Prostrata positively
assisted in the blood formation. The observed increased in values of haemoglobin in the treated group B
and D could be attributed to increase biosynthesis of haem group in the bone marrow (Shakdori et al.,
1992). The additive plant would have impacted positively in enhancing feed conversion efficiency
thereby increasing blood production. Yahaya (2010) obtained similar result using Lagunculeria rasemosa
as feed additive on adult rabbits.
Treated group D had the highest mean values of red blood cells when compared with other treatment
groups. The rise in RBC values in group D could be as a result of absence of erythrocyte damage and also
increased freedom from diseases which further confirmed the safety of the additive plant. Brown and
Clins (1991) opined that increased in RBC profiles, are associated with disease free animals. Similarly,
Shakdori et al. (1992) suggested that increase in RBC counts is an indication of reduced damage to
erythrocytes. The rabbits were able to provide essential nutrients necessary for the normal functioning of
the hematopoietic tissues (Ezeagu, et al., 2002). it could be attributed to the influenced of the test additive
on the buck rabbits. PCV value indicates whether a rabbits is anemic or dehydrated; the results obtained
in this study revealed that treated groups B and D recorded higher values when compared with group C
and control groups. The increased in values of PCV contributed to the increased RBC values of the
treated group B and D, since PCV indicates the amount of cells in a given blood samples. This shows
that, the treated rabbits were healthier, this finding corroborates the work of Oladele (2000), who argued
that PCV and haemoglobin contents of the blood are factors of their health status and nutrients utilization.
The PCV values obtained in this present study showed that, the experimental rabbits were well nourished
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and that the test additive was able to assist in providing essential amino acid and minerals necessary for
normal functioning of the haematopoetic tissues. This suggests a good quality additive.
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White Blood Cell (WBC) functions to defend the body against foreign bodies. Results of the WBC counts
obtained in this study revealed that the test additive at the highest level of inclusion rate (30kg feed) had
no significant effect on them. Lack of significant difference (P >0.05) on WBC by the host additive could
also indicate that Cyathula prostrata is not toxic as to prompt a corresponding stimulating effects on the
immune responses of the treated animals. This is consistent with the report of Ross and Wilson (2002)
that, leucocytosis manifest as a result of bacterial infection, inflammatory disorders, physical and
emotional stimulus, systematic infections and poisoning.
Eosinophils form part of the granulocytes that make up leucocytes in animals. There was no observed
abnormal linear increase (P>0.05) with higher level of Cyathula prostrate amongst the treatment groups.
This also reflects the absence of poison/toxic since there was nothing to promote inflammatory response
or deference/immune reaction from the test additive. This concord with the work of Cole (2003), who
reported detoxification as the major function of eosinophils.
On the other hand, Neutrophils form part of the granulocytes that make up leukocytes in animals and one
of most active phagocytes. In this study, the control group recorded higher values of neutrophils than the
treated rabbits, suggesting that, the test additive used in this study may likely contain high minerals,
antibody substances like flavonoids, antimicrobial agents and vitamins that assisted the treated groups to
build defense or resistance against any disease agents. These results varied with the finding of Ademola et
al. (2007), who reported inclusion of 1.5% garlic and 2% ginger, which significantly influenced white
blood cells, monocytes, lymphocytes and eosinophil of laying hens.
Conclusion
Various substances including chemical agents, plant extracts, and hormones (etc) have been used in
livestock and poultry to enhance performance. Such plants that are widely speculated for use as
performance enhancers are Mansonia altisima, pawpaw seeds, Alchonia cardifolia (Ogbamgba and
Wekhe, 2007) Laguncularia racemosa white mangrove (Yahaya, 2010). In recent time’s cyathula
prostrate, a pasture weed of forest areas of West Africa, by this study, will obviously join the quire as
performance enhancers since it promote good health and haematological parameters and improve
immunity of the animals (Reghavendra et al., 2005).
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