Positive response of rabbits fed varying levels of palm kernel cake as a replacement for wheat offal

Abstract

A major cost of producing rabbits is that of feed. Palm kernel cake is cheaper and locally available than wheat offal. This study was therefore, conducted to evaluate the performance of rabbits fed Palm Kernel Cake (PKC) as a replacement for Wheat Offal (WO). Twenty weaned rabbits of both sexes were used in the experiment. The rabbits were allocated to five diets, each with four replicates. Each diet contained the same quantities of ingredients but PKC and WO were varied such that diet (A) was 0% PKC and 40% WO, (B)10% PKC and 30% WO, (C)20% PKC and 20% WO, (D)30% PKC and 10% WO, and (E)40% PKC and 0% WO to measure feed intake, growth rate and feed conversion ratio. Carcass and organs of the rabbits were analysed. Average daily feed intake of rabbits recorded for diet A, B, C, D and E was 49.37, 40.05, 38.18, 39.10 and 56.05. The results revealed an insignificant difference in final weights of rabbits among all treatments which ranged from 777.50g (A) to 965.00g (E). The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was also not significant and ranged from 5.21 – 4.55 with diet A having the highest FCR. There were also no significant differences in carcass and organ weights among the treatments. The carcass weight ranged from 395.00g to 594.25g on diet A and E respectively. Diet E had the highest dressing percentage (57.70%) while the least was recorded for diet B (53.28%). It can be concluded that PKC compared favourably with WO and could be used to replace the latter without deleterious effects.

Keywords: Rabbits, palm kernel cake and wheat offal