ABSTRACT

The study was carried out in the Department of Forest Resources and Wildlife Management; Wildlife Domestication Unit, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City.

The study was carried out to determine the hematological parameters of captive cane rats (Thryonomys swinderianus). Eight cane rats comprising of (2) males, females, juvenile males and females each respectively were used. Results obtained showed variations in haematological parameters of the cane rats. Adult males had higher values of PVC (46.5ᵃ), WBC (6.35ᵇ), LY(3.35ᵃ), MO(+1.35ᵇ), GR(-3.65ᵇ), LY(+54.6ᵃ), MO(+19.45ᵇ), GR(-34.35ᵃ), RBC(5.6ᵇ), HGB (-12.55ᵃ), HCT(40.7ᵃ) than Adult females and in the juvenile males than in juvenile females with some expectations in the values of (PLT) (MPV), the higher values and differences may be due to different factors such as sex, age, stress and environmental conditions.

Farmers are thereby advised to ensure a periodical clinical examination on the captive reared cane rats to avoid disease outbreak. In addition, pens should be provided for the cane rats in order to prevent stress, it should be well ventilated and prevented from external environmental factors.