Effects of feeding graded levels of African Locust Bean (Parkia biglobosa) pulp on growth performance, carcass and haematological parameters of growing rabbits

Abstract

Twenty-four (24) unsexed mixed breed grower rabbits weighing between 500-571g were used in a feeding trial for ten (10) weeks. The experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, Department of Animal Science, Modibbo Adama University of Technology Yola. The rabbits were assigned to four dietary treatments replicated three times with two animals per replicate in a complete randomize design. The treatment diets contained varying levels of African locust bean pulp (ALBP) as Treatments 1 (0%), 2(10%), 3(20%) and 4(30%) respectively. Significant (P< 0.05) differences were recorded in Final weight, average daily gain, daily feed intake and Feed conversion Ratio (FCR) across the treatments. For final weight, T₁, T₂ and T₃ had the highest (P<0.05) values and T₄ had the least value. Similar trend was observed for daily weight gain. Daily feed intake falls between 38.3-41.5g with T₁ having the lowest value and T₃ had the highest value. Results obtained for blood analysis showed significant (P < 0.05) difference in white blood cell and Total protein across the treatment groups. The highest (P< 0.05) values for white blood cell were recorded in treatments 2,3 and 4 while treatment 1 had the least value. Results of the carcass analysis revealed that the inclusion of high proportion of the pulp in the diet adversely affected carcass yield. It can be concluded that inclusion of African locust bean pulp above 20% in rabbit’s diet had adverse effect on growth performance, haematological indices and carcass characteristics.

Keywords: Carcass; Haemoglobin; Pulp; Rabbits.