Assessment of internal organs of weaner rabbits fed graded levels of plantain leaf

Abstract

Some available forages during the dry season can serve as a backup for ruminants and pseudo ruminants such as rabbits. One of such forages is  the plantain leaf (PL). Due to scarce information of its effect on rabbits, this study was therefore, conducted to determine the organs response upon feeding it. Thirty mixed bred rabbits were randomly allotted to five experimental treatments. Five treatments were: concentrate compounded diet  (T1/control), while T2, T3, T4 and T5 comprised T1(30g PL) and 25g, 50g, 75g and 100g plantain leaf (PL), respectively. The study lasted for 56 days. The parameters measured were liveweight, liver, kidney (left and right), bile, lungs, heart, testes and ovary. The performance data showed that mean body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were significantly (p<0.05) better in rabbits fed the concentrate (12.14 g/d and 4.65 respectively)  than other treatments, though those on T5 was comparable. For the live weight, there were no significant differences amongst the treatment. There were no significant (p>0.05) differences in the organ weights of the rabbits for all the parameters measured except bile, and heart which were significant (p<0.05). Rabbits on T1 recorded the highest weight (3.93% dressed weight) in heart though similar (P>0.05) with those on T3 (2.60%). However, rabbits on T5 recorded a higher numerical weight (p>0.05) for liver, kidney (left and right) and ear (left and right). From the results, it can be concluded that feeding up to 100g/day of plantain leaf did not pose any adverse effects on the organ weights of weaner rabbits.

Keywords: Rabbits, organs, concentrate, plantain leaf, weight