ABSTRACT

The effect of graded levels of methionine and lysine, on reproductive, productive and haematologic, parameters of  rabbits were studied in 2 separate trials. Twenty adult female rabbits of mixed breed were fed 5 diets supplemented at 0.00, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30 and O.40% level's of methionine (Trial 1) and lysine (Trial 2) each,, ad libitum in a completely randomized experiment replicated 4 times. Highest values of litter size and weight at birth and at weaning, average daily weight gain of litter and of individual kit obtained for Trial 1 were 6.00, 291g, 5.00, 1839g, 57g and 14.9 1g. For does highest values of feed intake, average final body weight and total body weight gain were 57°g, 2445g and 553g respectively. Gestation length and average number of matings to conception ranged from 29.10 - 31.32 day with an average of 30.34 days; and 0.92 - 1.48 with average of 1.31 respectively. Kit mortality ranged from 7.70 - 100.00%. For Trial .2 highest values of litter size and weight at birth and at weaning, average daily weight gain of litter and of individual kit were 6.25, 261g, 5.44, 1272g, 36.4g and 12.2g. Highest values of feed intake, average final body weight and total body weight gain for does were 60.3g, 2185g and 400g respectively. Gestation length and average number of matings to conception ranged from 30.25 31.00 days with average of 30.58 days; 0.84 - 1.75 respectively. Kit mortality ranged from 8.30 - 44.40% with average of 28.74% All reproduct;ve parameters in Trial 1 were significantly different except litter birth weights while Mean daily concentrate ± forage intake and forage intake alone were significantly different for both Trial 1 and Trial 2. It is recommended that amino acid supplementation should not exceed a total of O.61% methionine and l.Ol% lysine in rabbit diets, since the best results were obtained at these optimal dietary levels.