Effects of feeding graded levels of Ackee leaf meal on nutrients digestibility, growth performance and carcass characteristics of weaner rabbits

Abstract

A study was carried out to determine nutrients digestibility, growth performance and carcass characteristics of weaner rabbits fed graded levels of Ackee Leaf Meal (ALM). Twenty weaner rabbits were randomly assigned to four treatments (T0 – 0 % ALM, which served as the control, T1 – 7.5 % ALM, T2 – 15 % ALM and T3 – 22.5 % ALM) in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and fed the assigned diets for ten weeks after one week adjustment period. Parameters measured included average daily feed intake, average daily body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and mortality. The digestibility study was carried out during the 8th week of the feeding trial. At the end of the feeding trial, two rabbits per treatment were randomly selected, starved of feed for 24 hours and slaughtered. Carcass measurements and weights of internal organs were taken. The results revealed significant differences in final body weight, total weight gain and average daily weight gain with T1 recording the highest values. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) increased when ALM was increased to 22.5 %. Digestibility values for DM and EE were significantly (p<0.05) higher for T2. Dressed weight and dressing percentage declined significantly (p<0.05) when ALM was increased to 22.5 % of the diet. It was concluded that ALM could be used to improve average daily weight gain and FCR up to 15 % inclusion level without increasing the unit cost of feed. The inclusion of ALM up to 15 % of the diet could also improve digestibility of DM and EE.

Keywords: Digestibility, Growth, Carcass, Ackee leaf meal, Weaner rabbits