Influence of enzyme supplementation on rabbits fed rumen liquor with poultry waste fermented cassava peels based diets

Abstract

The effect of increasing the optimum replacement level of maize with rumen liquor fermented cassava peels (RLFCP) with enzyme (E) supplementation in rabbit diets was evaluated in 56-day feeding trial using a 2 x 3 factorial experimental design. The E supplementation significantly increased (p<0.05) final live weight (FLW) and total weight gain (TWG), while the RLFCP inclusion (0 – 100 %) led to significant decrease (p>0.05) in the rabbit FLW, TWG and feed conversion ratio (FCR). However, RLFCP inclusion at various levels significantly increased (p<0.05) the daily feed intake (DFI). The slaughtered weight, skin, head and limb, kidneys, gall bladder and gastro intestinal tract were significantly affected (p<0.05) by dietary RLFCP levels. RLFCP inclusion significantly increased (p<0.05) packed cell volume (PCV), mean cell volume (MCV) and lymphocyte (LYM) levels. Enzyme x RLFCP was significant increased (p<0.05) the number of red blood cells. Equally, the concentrations of albumin, globulin, alkaline phosphatase, amylase and glucose were significantly affected (p<0.001) by the level of RLFCP in the diets such that replacement level of maize for RLFCP lead to increase in albumin and glucose, alkaline phosphate, while the effect of the replacement levels did not follow a particular trend for amylase and glucose. Addition of multi-enzyme at 0.35 g/kg level led to improvement in weight gain of the rabbits.

Keywords: Fermented cassava peels, Rabbits, Enzyme supplementation, Blood profiles, Health status