Effect of Aqueous Extract of Waltheria Indica Leaves on Haematology Profile of Rabbit Buck

This experiment was carried out to determine the effect of aqueous extract of Waltheria indica leaves on haematology profile of rabbit buck. The study lasted a period of 8 weeks. A total of 36 mixed breed grower male rabbits with an initial body weight of 1.17±0.07 kg and were fed with commercial feed (Top feed), the rabbit was assigned to 6 treatments at random in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement in a Completely Randomized Design. Each treatment was replicated thrice (two bucks per replicate). The factors were; the extract processing method (cold and hot extraction) and the levels of inclusion of the extract (T1 [0 ml], T2 [0.5 ml] and T3 [1.0 ml]). The treatment combinations used were C x T1, C x T2, C x T3, H x T1, H x T2 and H x T3. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using R statistical packages and significant different means were separated using Duncan’s new multiple range test. Results of this experiment showed a higher and significant (p < 0.05) effect of the extract amount was observed in the WBC, HB, MCV and PCV concentration for rabbits fed 0.5 ml and 1.0 ml extract compared to the control (0 ml extract). The interaction gave rise to effect on the mean corpuscular volume (H x T2 was lowest compared to others) and packed cell volume (C x T3) is higher. Therefore, this study concluded that it will be ideal to recommend hot extract, 0.5 ml or Hot x 1.0 ml aqueous leaves extract of Waltheria indica for the proper functioning of the blood haematology of rabbit buck.