Effects Of Replacing Maize With Graded Levels Of Dried Cocoa Pod Husk On Growth Performance Of Weaner Rabbits

ABSTRACT

Twenty four crossbred weaner rabbits (New Zealand x Chinchilla) between six—eight weeks of age were used to determine the effects of replacing maize with graded levels (0, 5, 10 and 15%) of dried cocoa pod husk on their growth performance in a completely randomized design experiment. The experiment lasted for six weeks. Results showed that feed intake decreased 0.33kg, 0.26kg, and 0.25kg correspondingly (P>0.05) with dietary levels of dried CPH. Rabbits on diet 2, significantly (P<0.05) recorded increased feed intake 0.33kg, average final live weight of 956.33g and the highest feed conversion ratio of 1.32kg than the rest. There were no significant differences 0.25kg, 0.23kg, and 0.32kg (P>0.05) in daily weight gain of rabbits in the different dietary levels of dried CPH. Feed conversion ratio of rabbits on 10% and control diets were similar 1.13 and 1.08 respectively (P >0.05) but significantly higher (P<0.05) than 15% CPH diets (0.78). Dried CPH can effectively replace 15% maize in rabbit's ration without any detrimental effects on the animals while 5 and 10% CPH reduced feed conversion ratio of rabbits and so cannot be used to replace maize