Growth Response and Serum Biochemistry of Growing Rabbits Fed Graded Levels of Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) Seed Kernel Meal

Abstract

The study was conducted for fifty-six (56) days to investigate the effects of feeding baobab seed kernel meal on growth and serum biochemical indices of grower rabbits. Five isonitrogenous, isocaloric and isofibrous rabbit grower diets were formulated to contain 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0% baobab seed kernel meal. Twenty (20) cross bred grower rabbits with mean initial live weight of 916±233.04 grams were randomly distributed to five treatments, each replicated four times in a completely randomized design. Final weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio were not significantly (P>0.05) different. Serum biochemical indices showed that albumin and alanine aminotransferase values were significantly (P<0.05) elevated by additional inclusion of baobab seed kernel. However, this elevation was not out of normal range reported for healthy rabbits. Creatinine was significantly (P<0.05) reduced at up to 5.0% baobab seed kernel inclusion level, but elevated at higher levels of inclusion. Serum biochemistry values for the experimental groups were within normal range, implying healthy nutrition. Baobab seed kernel meal can be fed to grower rabbits up to 10.0% of the diet without deleterious effect on growth and serum biochemistry.

Key Words: Grower rabbits, baobab seed kernel, growth, serum biochemistry