SOME BIOCHEMICAL AND HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF RATS FED TWO LOCALLY PREPARED WEANING FOODS

Abstract

Some biochemical and haematological parameters of male weanling albino rats fed two locally prepared weaning foods labelled JK and LI diets were studied, JK diet was prepared from maize, soya beans and ground nuts in the ratio 3:1:1 (w/w/w), eight (8) domestic fowl eggs and seventeen (17) table spoonfuls of groundnut were added per kilogram diet. LI diet was prepared from maize, sesame seeds, groundnut cake and crayfish in the ratio of 4:4:1:1 (w/w/w/w), The rats were fed ad libitum and supplied with drinking water for 27 days. Control rats were fed likewise using laboratory chow, Serum analysis of the rats fed the different types of diets, for total protein, albumin, glucose and some macroand micro-elements showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). Analysis of the blood for Hb, MCHC, RBC and PCV also showed no significant difference (P > 0.05), while clotting time, MCH, MCV and WBC counts differed signiiicanily (P < 0,05; in rats fed the two diets, There may be the need to improve on these diets and see the possibility of using them as weaning foods for humans,