Performance characteristics of Weaner rabbits fed Moringa oleifera and Moringa stenopetala

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the utilization of Moringa oleifera (MO) and Moringa stenopetala (MS) by weaner rabbit. In a twelve week feeding trial, forty eight weaner rabbits of about five weeks old were allotted into three treatments with each treatment consisting of sixteen rabbits in a completely randomized design. Animals in T1 were fed 50% basal diet and 50% MO, T2 50% basal diet, 25% MO and 25% MS and T3 50% basal diet and 50% MS respectively. They were fed at 4% of their body weight. Parameters measured included; feed intake, weight gain, carcass and haematological characteristics. At the end of the experiment, five rabbits from each treatment were selected based on similarity in weight and were slaughtered for carcass and haematological evaluations. The proximate analysis of the experimental diets was carried out according to the standard procedure of AOAC (2000). The data obtained were statistically analyzed with the General Linear Model of SAS (2008) and the Duncan New Multiple Range Test option of SAS (2008) was used to detect significant differences among means. The daily weight gain of T1 (8.11) and T2 (7.64) were significantly higher (p<0.05) than T3. There was significant difference (p<0.05) in the digestibility coefficient of the animal across the treatments. It can be concluded from the study that feeding Moringa oleifera and Moringa stenopetala does not have deleterious effect on the performance and carcass qualities of weaner rabbits.

Keywords: Performance, Moringa oleifera, Moringa stenopetala