STUDIES ON THE NUTRITIONAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF LOCAL MINERAL SALT (KANWA) IN RABBITS

Abstract

The traditional herdsmen in Nigeria are known to routinely administer IOCIII rock salts (kllllwa) to their nllllilwllt livestocks (callie, horse, sheep, goats and rabbits) as minerals supplements because of the nutritive and curative properties they belief it possess. Twelve varieties of such local rock . salts were obtained from the Minna central market, Niger State in Nigeria; and from constituent analysis, were found to be composed of mineral elements as sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride and carbonates others includes magnesium, iron}manganese, zinc and copper. An estimation of the Ilutritional alld toxicological errects or the loeal rock salts 011 rabbits was carried out at 3 weeks interval for 9 weeks on a group of control rabbits by the administration of 200mg/kg, 800mg/kg and 3200mg/kg of the local salt (kanwa) to three groups of rabbits the serum electrolyte level, their weight gain and biochemical parameters were evaluated. There were fluctuations in the level of serum electrolytes and serum biochemical parameters in control animals and treated animals. It was concluded that the salts (Kullw(1) cOlltain minerals c1emellts which are required by the animals lor growth and enhanced performance, and feeding at lower dosages can infact be beneficial to the animals but feed ins at levels above 800 mg/kg may be injurious to the animals. Although no profound observable clinical vi f toxicological effects were recorded in all the treated animals during the 9 week experimental period it is suggested that, further work needs to be carried out for a longer period, so as to ascertain incontrovertibly the nutritional and toxicological effects of the local rock salts.