Nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics of weaner rabbits(Oryctolagus cuniculus) fed graded levels of boiled pelleted Negro Coffee (Senna occidentalis) seed meal

Abstract

A 12 week feeding trial was conducted to determine the nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics of weaner rabbits fed boiled pelleted Senna occidentalis. A total of forty-five weaner rabbits of mixed sexes were randomly divided into five treatment groups in a completely randomized block design with three replicates of three rabbits each. Boiled Senna occidentalis was included in the diets at the levels of 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10% i respectively. Although a significant difference (p<0.05) observered in the result of feed intake and feed conversion ratio, they however decreased linearly with increasing levels of senna in the diet. Weekly weight gain was highest in Treatment 4(7.5% boiled pelleted senna) from the fourth week till the end of the experiment while Treatment 5(10% senna) recorded the lowest throughout the experiment. Treatment 1 had the highest digestibility values for crude protein and fat while Treatment 4 had the highest value for crude fibre, although significant variation (p<0.05) occurred among all the parameters taken (Nutrient Digestibility and Carcass Characteristics). Significant difference (p<0.05) occurred in the live weight, slaughter weight and dressed weight. The weight of the dressed external parts and the internal organs showed significant difference (p<0.05). Better performance parameters were obtained in Treatment 4 indicating that up to 7.5% boiled Senna can be included in the diets of growing rabbits without any adverse effects.