Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Rabbits Fed Varying Levels of Soya Milk Residue

Abstract

Forty weaner (Lop x New Zealand White) rabbits were allotted to five dietary treatments in which soya milk residue (SMR) replaced full-fat soya beans at 0, 20, 30 and 40% in a completely randomized design. There were two replicates with five rabbits in a replicate. The rabbits were fed for eight (8) weeks after a 14 days adjustment period and data was collected on body weight, body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Two rabbits per replicate were randomly selected, starved for 12 hours and slaughtered for carcass characteristic determination. The results obtained showed significant differences in feed intake and final weight gain. Rabbits fed 30% SMR recorded the highest feed intake (110.52 g/day) and final weight gain (1761.42 g/day). Daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio were not influenced by dietary treatments. However, rabbits on 30% SMR had the highest daily gain (31.45 g) and the best feed conversion ratio (5.94). The gut and carcass characteristics measured were not significant across the treatments with the exception of weight of large intestine. From the result of this study, it may be concluded that soya milk residue can be included in the diet of rabbits up to 30% level without compromising performance and had no negative effect on gut and carcass characteristics of the rabbits.