ABSTRACT

The experiment was carried out to study the weight gain, feed conversion efficiency and economic benefit of twenty cane rats. They were of 3 months of age, quarantined for 21 days, fed cassava meal/diastic microbes degraded sawdust (DMDS). The experimental design used for the study was Complete Randomized Design (CRD). There were 5 treatment groups: Tj T2 T3 T4 T5 which replicated 4 times per Treatment. The DMDS feed produced was included at the following levels Ti (20% cassava meal and 0% DMDS), T2 (15% cassava meal and 5% DMDS). T3 (10% cassava meal and 10% DMDS), T4 (5% cassava meal and 15% DMDS) and T5 (0% cassava meal and 20% DMDS). The trial lasted for 60 days. The result of the experiment showed that there was no significant (P> 0.05) in the initial weight, while the weight gained, average daily weight gained, feed intake, average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio deffered significantly (p<0 05). The cane rats fed Diet 2 had the highest means weight gained, average daily weight gained, while Diet 4 had the best feed conversion ratio. The final weight showed that cane rats fed Diets 2,3,4 and 5 were significant (P>< 0.05) higher than the Diet 1. Base on the economic benefit, the result showed that, cost per kg weight gain, cost of feed consumed, cost of production, gross revenue and revenue was significantly (P< 0.05), while cost differential and relative cost benefit were significant (p<0.01), this was due to the DMDS as part of feed fed to the cane rats. The result on cost of total feed consume was significant (P>< 0.05) within the treatments, while the Diet 1 was significantly (P< 0.05) higher than the other treatments. The revenue and gross revenue of Cane rats showed that Diets with DMDS were significant (P< 0.05) higher than Diet 1. This showed that diastic microbes degraded sawdust (DMDS) can be utilized in feeding Cane rats up to 20% inclusion rate as component ofthe diet.