GROWTH, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF WEANED RABBITS (Oryctolagus cunniculus) FED DIETS CONTAINING VARYING LEVELS OF HORSERADISH (Moringa oleifera) LEAF MEAL

Abstract

This study was carried out using twenty four (24) female and 4 male weaned rabbits all of New Zealand White, and American Chinchilla breeds aged between 4- 6 weeks with mean weight of between 363- 460 g to evaluate growth, carcass characteristics and reproductive performance of the weaned rabbits fed diets containing varying levels of horseradish (Moringa oleifera) leaf meal (MOLM). The rabbits were divided into 4 treatment groups consisting of 6 rabbits per treatment group, replicated in a complete randomized design, and fed four diets designated T1, T2, T3 and T4 with 0 %, 10 %, 20 % and 30 % M O L M inclusion level, respectively. The experiment lasted for 12 weeks for growth and 16 weeks for reproductive and carcass phase respectively. Results showed that horseradish (Moringa oleifera) leaf meal contains the following anti-nutritional factors which were below lethal levels; tannin (21.19 mg/100 g), phytate (2.57 mg/100 g), trypsin inhibitor (3.00 mg/100 g), saponin (1.00 mg/100 g), and oxalates (0.45 mg/100 g) .Parameters evaluated for growth phase, included final body weight, daily weight gain, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio. (FCR).It was observed from this study that, T3 (20 %) M O L M inclusion level had the highest significant final body weight (3135.90 g), daily weight gain, (31.90 g) and daily feed intake of (83.42 g) respectively. The significantly lowest feed conversion ratio (F C R) 2.62 recorded for rabbits in 20 % M O L M inclusion level was an indication that at this level there was better utilization by the rabbits, while the highest F C R in T4 (10.25) indicated poor utilization of the feed at that level of M O L M inclusion. The litter birth weight values ranged from 32.10-38.07 g for T1 to T3; T4 and T3 recorded the highest values (p<0.05) of 55.20 and 59.10 respectively for gestation gain. The weaning traits were significantly affected by the dietary treatments, with T3 having the highest (p<0.05) size (3.33) at weaning and survival rate at weaning 66. 60 %. T2 and T3 recorded excellent performance 442.30 g, 408.40 g and 462.52, 421.84 g for mean litter weight at weaning and litter weight gain, respectively. The carcass cuts and organ weights were not significantly (p> 0.05) different across the treatments except for lumber-sacral, 13.17 g (T2,) full intestine 9.95 % (T4) and abdominal fat, 4.33 (T2).Based on the findings of this study, it could be concluded that anti-nutritional factors in Moringa oleifera leaf meal is below lethal level. At 20 % inclusion level, the animals performed significantly better (p< 0.05) for daily weight gain and feed intake over the control group. The best performance for growth and reproduction were observed in rabbit fed 20 % inclusion level of M O L M. Rabbits fed 20 % Moringa oleifera were observed to have better digestibility of ether extract, ash and nitrogen free-extract. While those on 10 % and 20 % M O L M had the highest (p <0.05 lumber-sacral weight. The inclusion of MOLM level at 30 %, had the highest (p <0.05) values for full intestine and abdominal fat. It was consequently concluded that, 20 % MO L M included to rabbits’ diet did not have any deleterious effect on the growth, carcass characteristics and reproductive parameter of rabbits.It was recommended therefore, that, 20 % horseradish (Moringa oleifera) leaf meal can be included in rabbit diet for effective growth, reproductive performance and carcass quality.