ABSTRACT

 A feeding trial was conducted using 24 grower rabbits to evaluate the effect of graded levels of inclusion of Gomphrena celosiodies (Globe amaranth) leaf Inca! fl their diets. They were divided into 4 treatments with 3 replicates per treatment having 2 rabbits per replicate arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Four diets were formulated. Diet 1 was the control diet while diets 2, 3 and 4 contained 5%, l0% and 15% dietary levels of inclusion of the test feedstuff respectively. Feed and water were given ad libitum. The experiment lasted for 56 days. Data were collected for feed intake, weight gain (from where parameters like feed conversion ratio was calculated), carcass quality, organ weights and economics of diet. The test ingredient was analyzed for proximate composition, gross energy and anti nutritional factors. The proximate composition is as follows: CP-15.86%, CF-16.14%, Ash-15.90%, EE-2.13%, NFE39.68% and DM-89.70%. The anti nutritional factors present were phytate-l.56%, oxalate- 1.24%, tannin-0. 094%, saponnin-2. 17% and HCN-23 .73mg/kg. The gross energy value was 3.26kca1/ g. For growth performance, there was no significant (P>0.05) difference for all the parameters considered. 1-lowever, it numerically favoured diet 4. For cut-parts expressed in percentage dressed weight, there was no significant (P>0.05) difference for all the parameters evaluated except for the thigh, drumstick and shoulder. it statistically favoured diets 2 and 4. All the organ weight parameters apart from the liver showed significant (P<:0.05) difference. <0.05) difference. 'Flic values of the kidney, spleen and heart did not follow any pattern that could he attributed to the effect of the test feedstuff while the value of the lungs in diet 1 was significantly higher than the test diets. There was no significant difference for all the parameters considered in the economics of the diet except for cost of feed consumed. This favoured diet 4 (Ni 14.43), followed by diets 3 (N122.84), 2 (N132.63) and 1 (N137.63). Although there was no significant difference in the gross margin values, it numerically favoured diet 4 (N492.23), making it more economically viable than others (D3- N462.16, D2- N436.12 and D1-N358.20). In conclusion, considering the growth performance, especial! y the feed conversion ratio, moderate carcass quality and organ weight and the numerical superiority of the economic value of diet 4, diet 4 is therefore recommended