Response Of Weaner Rabbits Fed Graded Levels Of Raw Bambara Groundnut Offal Diets

ABSTRACT

Thirty weaner rabbits were used to determine the response of weaner rabbits to graded levels of Bambara Groundnut Offal (BGO) diets. The experimental design was Completely Randomized Design (CRD). There were five treatments with each treatment replicated three times. There were two rabbits per replicate. The inclusion levels of BGO meal in the experimental diets were 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% in Treatments 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Parameters measured were final live weight, weight gain, feed and protein intake, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio (PER), feed cost and carcass quality. The results of the experiment showed that there were no significant differences (P>0.05) in all the parameters measured except daily feed intake, protein intake, protein efficiency ratio, dressed percentage and intestinal weight. Rabbits fed 15% BGO diet had numerically higher daily weight gain (19.16g), final live weight (1.18kg), better feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 2.56, protein efficiency ratio (PER) of 2.92 and lowest cost per kg live weight gain (N76.55) than rabbits fed other diets. Increase in the inclusion level of BGO in the diets resulted in a significant (P<0.05) decrease in total feed cost. It was concluded that weaner could be fed 15% BGO diet to enhance daily weight gain and final weight.