GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTIC OF WEANER R RABBITS (Oryctolagus cunniculus) FED DIETS CONTAINING VARYING LEVELS OF Stylosanthes hamata LEAF MEAL

Abstract

ABSTRACT

This experiment was conducted to investigate the growth performance and carcass characteristics of weaner rabbits fed varying levels of Stylosanthes hamata leaf meal in the diet. The rabbits were randomly allocated into five treatment groups with three replicates comprising of two rabbits in each replicate. The rabbits were initially weighed and there after, subsequent weights were taken at weekly intervals throughout the experimental period which lasted for twelve weeks. Five rations were formulated for the five treatment groups with varying levels of Stylosanthes hamata leaf meal. The inclusion levels of Stylosanthes hamata leaf meal in the diet were 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 % for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. The formulated diets were also taken for analysis to determine their proximate composition and energy values. Feeding regimes were twice daily, in the morning and in the evening Data were collected on growth parameters, digestibility, anti-nutritional factors, carcass components of rabbits, and organ proportions, organoleptic properties of meat and cost/benefit effect of feeding rabbits with Stylosanthes hamata leaf meal. The results showed that Stylosanthes hamata leaf meal contained low levels of phenol, tannin, saponin, phytate, and oxalate. Rabbits fed the control diet had significantly (p<0.05) reduced performance in terms of feed conversion efficiency, digestibility, final body weights, dressed carcass percentage and carcass cuts. Significant differences (p<0.05) were recorded between treatments for colour, juiciness and overall acceptability with T5 having overall acceptability. The cost of feed per kg and the cost of daily feed intake per rabbit followed the same trend as the cost decreased as the level of Stylosanthes hamata leaf meal diets inclusion increased. However, higher and better performance were observed when rabbits fed 50 % inclusion levels of Stylosanthes hamata leaf meal with regard to the performance indices mentioned above. It was concluded that Stylosanthes hamata leaf meal inclusion at the 40% level improved rabbits performance, and carcass values.