Growth performance and nutrient digestibility of weaner rabbits fed African rabbits fed African locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) fruit pulp

Abstract

The need to seek for alternative feed materials to replace maize as source of energy to support growth in weaner rabbits necessitated this study. A feeding trial of 84 days using unsexed rabbit crosses (New Zealand white and Chinchilla) was conducted to assess the replacement value of African Locust bean fruit pulp for maize in weaner rabbits diet. Five diets were formulated, such that 100% maize and 0.00% fruit pulp of African fruit pulp at (T1), 75% maize and 25% inclusion of African locust bean at (T2), 50% maize and 50% African locust bean pulp as (T3), 25% maize and 75% African fruit pulp at (T4) while (T5) contain 100% fruit pulp of African locust bean and 0.00% maize, respectively. Seventy-five (75) weaner rabbits with average initial weight between 610.67g - 622.60g were randomly allocated in a complete randomized design (CRD) experiment to the five diets with fifteen (15) weaner rabbits in each treatment which were subdivided into three (3) replicates having five (5) weaner rabbits in each replicate. The weaner rabbits were housed in individual cage compartment. Data collected were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Proximate and Phytochemical composition of sun dried fruit pulp of African locust bean used in the diets showed dry matter content of 91.38 %, crude protein 6.70 %, crude fiber 11.21 % Ether extract 5.04 %, ash 5.02 and nitrogen free extract 63.41 %. The metabolizable energy contained in the ingredient was 3079.41 ME/Kcal/Kg. Proximate composition of the experimental diets fed to weaner rabbits carried out indicated that T1 had dry matter content of 93.28 %, crude protein of 19.80 % and 12.41 % of crude fiber. Ether extract was higher in T5 with 8.48 %, while nitrogen free extract contained in T3 had the highest value of 51.17 %. However, ash content in T5 has the highest value of 7.83 %. The metabolizable energy in all the dietary treatment shows that T5 had the highest value of 3013.21 ME/Kcal/Kg. Nutrient digestibility in weaner rabbits showed crude protein digested during the experimental work in the treatment ranged from 69.46 % to 73.73 %. Crude fiber digested was between the ranges of 42.20 % to 58.12 % in all the treatments. Ash content ranged from 50.18 % to 56.35. T5 has the highest percent nutrient of ether extract digested with 83.36 % while the lowest value was obtained in T1 with 58.99 respectively. Values in nitrogen free extract ranged from 65.20 % to 72.43 % and showed a significance difference (P< 0.05) in all the treatment. Data were collected on daily feed intake and weekly weight. Feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, energy efficiency ratio, nutrient digestibility and feed cost benefit N (kg) were calculated. Weaner rabbits fed 75% maize and 25% African fruit pulp (T2) consumed more feed and significantly gained more weight (P < 0.05) than those fed the other diets. Feed conversion, protein efficiency ratio and energy efficiency ratio were not significantly (P>.0.05) influenced by the treatment diets while nutrient digestibility showed a significance difference (P < 0.05) in all the treatments. Average feed cost/weight gain of production with maize was estimated at N311.25 in T1 while the African locust bean fruit pulp was N161.81 in T5, a cost difference of N149.44, this resulted to a progressive reduction in the cost treatment of feed with increase in the level of fruit pulp of African locust bean meal. The results of this study indicated that when 25 % fruit pulp of African locust replaced maize, the rabbits performed better than the control diet and also of more economical option.