Growth performance of weaner rabbits fed graded levels of plantain leaf

Abstract

The potentials of non-conventional resources are great as they play an important role in alleviating the problem of cost and competition of  conventional feed sources for livestock and poultry in Nigeria. This study aimed at investigating the growth performance of weaner rabbits fed graded levels of plantain leaf (PL). Thirty mixed bred rabbits aged 6-8 weeks old with an average weight of 0.70 ± 0.02 kg were randomly allotted to  five experimental treatments of three replicates each in a completely randomized design. Treatments consisted of T1 – concentrate alone (control), T2 – T5 had 25g, 50g, 75g and 100g of PL respectively. Proximate composition of the feed were carried out while initial weight, final weight, feed intake, feed conversion and weight gain were measured. Results revealed that the crude protein and crude fibre contents of the concentrate and PL  recorded 19.30% and 9.97% vs 0.98% and 8.11% respectively. Initially weight ranged from 0.65kg – 0.76kg. Rabbits on T2 recorded the least final weight (0.98kg) which was similar to those on T4 (1.05kg) and T3 (1.10kg) but lower (P<0.05) than those on T5 and T1 (1.32kg and 1.38kg   respectively). Rabbits on T5 recorded the highest intake of PL (83.72g/d) while those on T2 had the least (21.04g/d). Weight gain was highest (0.68kg), for rabbits on T1 but least for those on T2 (0.23 kg). The feed conversion ratio ranged from 4.65 (T1) to 14.85 (T4). Rabbits were able to
tolerate the plantain leaf meal up to 100g. In addition, rabbits on 100g/day plantain leaf performed comparably with those on control.

Keywords: Growth, Rabbits, Plantain leaf, concentrate, feed intake