Effects of composite mango (Mangifera indica) fruit reject meal on growth performance, digestibility and economics of production of rabbits

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to determine the effect of mango fruit reject meal on growth performance, digestibility and  economics of production of growing rabbits.  Mango fruit rejects were sliced such that the peel and pulp were together and the  seed discarded, sun dried until it attained about 10% moisture and milled to obtain  mango fruit reject meal (MFRM). The MFRM was sub-sampled and its proximate composition determined. Five diets were formulated which contained 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% MFRM and twenty weaned rabbits of mixed sex and breed were fed the diets for 70 days. Mean daily feed intake, weight gain, FCR, and final live weights measured were not significantly affected (P>0.05). Digestibility of nutrients was also similar (P>0.05)  across the treatment groups. Inclusion of MFRM however significantly reduced (P<0.05) the cost per kg weight gain, with the rabbit group fed diet containing 20% MFRM being significantly (P<0.05) less costly. The profit was also significantly better at 20% MFRM. It was concluded that MFRM is a good feedstuff in rabbit diets and should be used. It was suggested that higher levels should be investigated to determine the optimum level of MFRM in rabbit diets to maximize profit.

Key words: rabbit; mango fruit reject; performance