Performance Of Growing Rabbits Fed Graded Levels Of Goat Rumen Content

Abstract

A ten-week feeding trial was conducted to assess the biological and economic performance of growing rabbits fed graded levels of goat rumen content (GRC). The GRC which contained 27.25% crude protein and 28.33% crude fibre were included at 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40% levels in diets 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively to replace maize and groundnut cake in the diets. Thirty crossbred rabbits (Dutch X New Zealand White) between 5 and 7 weeks of age were randomly allocated to the 5 dietary treatments in groups of 6 and allowed unlimited access to the feed and drinking water throughout the experimental period. The daily feed intake (FI) were 49.0, 50.08, 51.05, 49.05 and 50.77g for diets 1 (control), 2, 3, 4 ands 5 respectively. The corresponding daily weight gains (DWG) were 11.07, 10.0, 9.52, 8.96 and 8.69g. The FI, DWG and feed conversion ratio did not significantly (p>0.05) differ among the treatments. The feed cost per kg decreased as the level of GRC increased in the diets. The feed per kg of weight gain also steadily declined from 20% to 40% levels of GRC hence leading to lowered feed cost and cost of production. Therefore, 40% GRC could be incorporated into the diets of growing rabbits without adverse effects on performance.



KEY WORDS: Growing Rabbits; Performance ; Goat rumen content.

Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol.11(1) 2005: 39-43