Dietary inclusion of locust bean leaf meal improved performance of weaner rabbits

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth performance of weaner rabbits fed varying dietary inclusion levels of locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) leaf meal. The proximate composition of LBLM was determined. Twenty-four weaner rabbits (local breed) of mixed sexes were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments containing 0, 10 ,20 and 30% locust bean leaf meal (LBLM). Each treatment was replicated thrice with two rabbits per replicate in a completely randomized design. The proximate analysis results indicated that LBLM has crude protein value of 16.23% with estimated metabolizable energy value of 2,278kcal/kg. The final weight and weight gain was significantly (P<0.05) better for the animals fed diet containing 20% LBLM with the value of 1239.80g and 559.40g / head respectively. While the animals fed the control diet (100% concentrate) had the poorest final weight and weight gain. There were no significant (P>0.05) difference in feed intake across the dietary treatments. Water intake was significantly (P< 0.05) higher (101.67mL/head) in the rabbits fed 20% LBLM diet, while the rabbits fed control diets consumed the least amount of water (60.82mL/head). The body temperatures recorded falls within the optimum temperature. Therefore, it is concluded that inclusion of LBLM in rabbit's diets has no negative effects on the growth performance of rabbits and can be used as alternative feed resource in rabbit nutrition.

Keywords: Locust bean leaves meal, weaner rabbits, growth performance, body temperature