Growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass traits of weaner rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) fed diets containing pelleted boiled Negro coffee (Senna occidentalis) seed meal

Abstract

A 12-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass traits of weaner rabbits fed diets containing pelleted boiled Senna occidentalis seed meal. A total of 45 weaner rabbits of mixed sexes were randomly allotted to five treatment diets, in a completely randomized design model, with three replicates per treatment and three rabbits per replicate, making a total of nine rabbits per treatment. Boiled and pelleted Senna occidentalis seed meals were included in the diets at the levels of 0 %, 2.5 %, 5 %, 7.5 % and 10 % respectively. Feed and water were supplied to the animals ad libitum, and data collected on growth performance. At the end of the feeding trial, one animal per replicate was randomly selected, fasted for about 12 hours, and slaughtered using a sharp knife at the jugular vein. Results showed significant differences (p<0.05) in feed intake and feed conversion ratio; and they decreased linearly with increasing levels of Senna in the diet. Weekly weight gain was highest in Treatment 4 (7.5 % boiled pelleted Senna) from the fourth week till the end of the experiment (11.94 g/day), while Treatment 5 (10% Senna) recorded the lowest weight gain (6.03 g/day) throughout the experiment. Treatment 1 had the highest digestibility values for crude protein and ether extract (82.74 and 77.39 % respectively) while Treatment 4 had the highest value for crude fibre, digestibility (78.66 %) although significant variations (p<0.05) occurred among all the parameters taken. Also, significant differences (p<0.05) occurred in the live weight, slaughter weight and dressed weight among the various treatments. Better performance parameters were obtained in Treatment 4 indicating that up to 7.5 % pelleted boiled Senna occidentalis seed meal can be included in the diets of growing rabbits without any adverse effects on their growth performance and carcass traits.