Growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics of growing rabbits fed varying inclusion levels of soya bean cheese waste as a replacement for groundnut cake

Abstract

This study assessed the growth performance nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics of growing rabbit fed varying levels soyabean chesse waste as replacement for groundnut cake. Forty five (45) growing rabbit og mixed breeds aged between 6 to 8 weeks were randoniIy a consisted of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 % levels of S.Oy tpd fnr tvvpl zin\^ n?ea as rePlacement for groundnut cake. The feeding trial ,?a t'hTt d i WaS t0 ’nvesd8ate the growth performance, nutrient digeshbihty and carcass characteristics of growing rabbits. Completely randomized design (CRD) was used as the expenmental design. The rabbits were randomly allotted to five (5) treatments Each treatment had three replicates with three (3) animals in each replicate. Eighty.(80) g of concentrate/animal/day was fed as main diet in the morning (8.00 am - 8.30 am) and water melon peel (WMP) was offered as forage. Water was also provided ad libitum. Data were collected on growth parameters such weight gain , feed intake, nutrient digestibility and carcass components of the rabbits. The initial body weights of rabbits were comparable across the treatment groups. Ti (0 % SBCW) and T4 (75 % SBCW) obtained significantly (P<0.05) higher values in final body weight. No significant (P>0.05) difference was observed in average body weight gain , daily weight gain and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) among the treatment groups. Total feed intake and average daily feed intake of rabbits fed 0 % SBCW differs significantly (P<0.05) from those fed 25 and 100 % SBCW but statistically similar to those fed 50 and 75 % . Crude protein utilization was significantly (P<0.05) better with those rabbits fed 50 % SBCW. No significant (P>0.05) differences was recorded in carcass characteristics among the treatment groups except in spleen parameter. From the results of this study, SBCW can replace up to 75 % of groundnut cake in the diet of growing rabbits for feed intake and weight gain.