EFFECT OF VARIED LEVELS OF DIETARY COPPER ON PERFORMANCE AND BLOOD CHEMISTRY OF GROWING FEMALE RABBITS

Abstract

Forty weanling female rabbit of average weight of 515.4g were used to assess the effect of inclusion of different levels of copper (0, 100, 200, and 300ppm inclusion levels) on the growth rate, feed intake, blood and serum parameters of the animals. Final weight, daily weight gain, daily feed intake and feed to gain ratio increased (P<0.05) with the increase in dietary supplemented copper levels until 200ppm. Hb, PCV, RBC, WBC, neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes and lymphocytes, blood serum parameters, cholesterol and urea were not affected (P>0.05) by dietary treatment.