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The aim of the present study was to assess dietary and sex-related effects on selected blood indicators of 40-day-old mallard ducks undergoing fattening. The ducks were divided into three dietary groups (control, L50 and L100). The control (C) group was fed a diet containing soybean meal as the main protein component of the feed. In both experimental groups L50 and L100 soybean meal was replaced with meal of whole seeds of white lupine, Zulika variety, in proportions of 50 and 100%, respectively. With respect to the assessed dietary effect, the serum of the L50 group showed a significantly higher albumin concentration as compared to the C group (P < 0.05) accompanied by a significantly lower proportion of γ-globulins in the L50 group as compared to the L100 group (P < 0.01). As for the blood plasma, the C group showed a significantly higher concentration of total cholesterol as compared to the L100 group (P < 0.05) and a highly significant increase in the triacylglyceride (TAG) level as compared to the L50 and L100 groups (P < 0.01). Concerning plasma mineral indicators, ducks of the C group showed a significantly higher calcium concentration (P < 0.05) in comparison to the L100 group and a lower phosphorus concentration (P < 0.01) in comparison to the L50 as well as L100 group. Further, the C group showed a significantly lower level of potassium (K) as compared to the L50 group (P < 0.05) as well as the L100 group (P < 0.01). The sex of the ducks significantly (P < 0.05) affected the proportion of α-globulins in serum and the magnesium level in the plasma and affected the plasma levels of TAG and K and the activity of aspartate aminotransferase (P < 0.01).

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of whole seeds of white lupine and different binder types in complete pelleted diets on selected haematological and plasma biochemical indicators of growing dwarf rabbits. The individual litters of Dwarf Lop rabbit kits were randomised after birth into control (n = 12) and experimental (E) groups. The young rabbits of the E group (n = 24) received an experimental pre-weaning diet containing a 25% share of white lupine seeds. At the time of weaning, the live weights of eight-week-old rabbits in the control group and E group were 727 g and 743 g, respectively. The weaned rabbits of the E group were further equally divided into two post-weaning experimental dietary groups (M = 12; G = 12); these diets contained a 20% share of white lupine seeds each and their composition only differed in the type of the binder (molasses or glycerol component). The rabbits of the control group received a commercial pet rabbit diet with no white lupine seeds during the entire experimental period. At the age of eight weeks, the diet showed a significant effect on the level of albumin (P < 0.05), A/G ratio (P < 0.05) and ALP activity (P < 0.01) in plasma of dwarf rabbit kits. Significant effects of diet were found in 15-week old rabbits in relation to the plasma level of albumin (P < 0.05), Ca (P < 0.05), A/G ratio (P < 0.05) and ALT activity (P < 0.01). The dietary inclusion of white lupine seeds resulted in beneficial health effects on certain blood indicators of rabbits, and their use in the proportion of 25% in the pre-weaning diet and 20% in the post-weaning diet can be recommended as a suitable feed additive for dwarf rabbits. The use of crude glycerol as binder in the experimental diet had no adverse effect on the blood indicators of the growing rabbits and thus it can be recommended for the manufacture of feed pellets intended for dwarf rabbits.