ABSTRACT
Twenty-four growing rabbits were used to
determine the response of growing rabbits to varying forage combinations
supplemented with maize offal/pahn kernel cake based diet. The experimental
design was a completely randomized design (CRD). The animals were divided into
four treatment groups and each group allotted to one of four diets. \\ hile one
of the four experimental diets had 75 % Panicum maximum and 25 % Ci’iilmu'ma
pubescens, serving as the control, the other three diets had 50 % of either l-.laeis
guinensif, or Dactyladaenia barteri or Dialum guineense. Also, 50 g DM" of
concentrate per rabbit was supplied to the animals daily. Parameters measured
were weight gain, feed and protein intake, efficiency of feed utilization,
protein efficiency ratio, fur characteristics, carcass quality, nutritive and
organoleptic properties. There were significant (P<0.05) treatment effect on
the daily feed and protein intake, weight gain and protein efficiency ratio.
Rabbits on Treatment 1 consumed significantly (P-().()5) more feed daily
(205.39 g) followed closely by rabbits on T2 (195.87 g) while: 13 consumed the
least (160.31 g). Treatment 2 gave the best weight gain (12.66 g day),
efficiency of feed utilization (15.48) and protein efficiency ratio (2.17) than
other treatments. The gross margin and return on investment values did not
differ significantly (P>0.05) among treatments. Also, carcass, organ and
pelt characteristics results revealed fasted live weight, forearm, liver and
kidney as the only carcass parameters that were significantly (P<0.05)
affected by the dietary treatments even though T2 gave the biggest fur weight,
fur area and fur circumference. Further, there were no significant (P-'0.05)
difference on the nutritive properties of rabbit protein supplement among
dietary treatments. However, organoleptic properties results reveal that T4
gave the best colour, texture, taste and was accepted better (P<0.05) than
other treatments. It was (herefore concluded that feeding 25 % Panicum maximum
and Centrosema pubescens with ^0 % of either Elaeis guinensis or Dactyladaenia
barteri or Dialum guineense could lead to improved intake, weight gain,
economic benefits, carcass quality, nutritive and organoleptic properties of
rabbits especially when supplemented with concentrate; however E. guinensis
demonstrated greater feeding potential for rabbits and is therefore highly
recommended.
OZUO, O (2024). Response of growing rabbits to varying linage combinations supplemented with maize offal/palm kernel cake based diet:- Ozuo, Uchechukwut K.. Mouau.afribary.org: Retrieved Oct 09, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/response-of-growing-rabbits-to-varying-linage-combinations-supplemented-with-maize-offalpalm-kernel-cake-based-diet-ozuo-uchechukwut-k-7-2
OZUO, OZUO. "Response of growing rabbits to varying linage combinations supplemented with maize offal/palm kernel cake based diet:- Ozuo, Uchechukwut K." Mouau.afribary.org. Mouau.afribary.org, 01 Feb. 2024, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/response-of-growing-rabbits-to-varying-linage-combinations-supplemented-with-maize-offalpalm-kernel-cake-based-diet-ozuo-uchechukwut-k-7-2. Accessed 09 Oct. 2024.
OZUO, OZUO. "Response of growing rabbits to varying linage combinations supplemented with maize offal/palm kernel cake based diet:- Ozuo, Uchechukwut K.". Mouau.afribary.org, Mouau.afribary.org, 01 Feb. 2024. Web. 09 Oct. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/response-of-growing-rabbits-to-varying-linage-combinations-supplemented-with-maize-offalpalm-kernel-cake-based-diet-ozuo-uchechukwut-k-7-2 >.
OZUO, OZUO. "Response of growing rabbits to varying linage combinations supplemented with maize offal/palm kernel cake based diet:- Ozuo, Uchechukwut K." Mouau.afribary.org (2024). Accessed 09 Oct. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/response-of-growing-rabbits-to-varying-linage-combinations-supplemented-with-maize-offalpalm-kernel-cake-based-diet-ozuo-uchechukwut-k-7-2