Dietary effect of mulberry pellet on Haematology and biochemical analyses of rabbits

Morus alba (White Mulberry) is high in quality, minerals, and nutrients. So Mulberry plant is suitable to be fed to monogastric animals and herbivores. Rabbit meat has a lot of potential as a beef and mutton substitute. Due to the rising cost of animal feed ingredients and the high demand for protein supplements, several efforts have been made to use non-traditional feed protein ingredients to help alleviate feed shortages while lowering feeding costs. Mulberry plant is a well-known medicinal plant that has long captivated researchers. This study aims to evaluate the effect of newly formulated Mulberry pellet on the haematological and biochemical parameters in growing New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. The formulation of mulberry pellet consisted of mulberry leaves and stems (7:3) with 5% molasses, 5% tapioca starch, and 1% sodium bicarbonate. Diets were divided into three dietary groups: Control (100% commercial pellet), T1 (50% mulberry leaf pellet and 50% commercial pellet) and T2 (100% mulberry pellet). According to findings, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in hematology and serum biochemistry during post-feeding trial. However, the T1 group shows the hematological results optimumwithin the normal range (WBC, LYM, GRA, RBC, HGB, HCT, RDW, PLT, MPV, PCT, and PDW). At the same time, biochemical parameters in T2 in BUN, GLU, and ALT have recorded superior values than C and T1. Red blood cells (RBC), haemoglobin (HGB) and hematocrit (HCT) percentages decreased with mulberry leaf-to-stem in the diets while mulberry pellets decreased serum glucose (normal range is 75.00-145.00 mg/dl). However, T2 outperforms C and T1 in biochemical analysis. The current finding may help the farmers to reduce the feed cost.