Effect of Different Agro Industrial By-Products on the Growth Performance of Growing Rabbits

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth response of growing rabbits to diets containing different agro industrial by-products. A total of 24 weaner rabbits were used for this study. Four experimental diets were formulated and designated as Tl, T2, T3, and T4. T1 (control diet) contained 20% rice offal (RO) as its main fibre source while T2, T3 and T4 contained 20 % each of Burukutu waste (BKT), Cassava peel meal (CPM) and Maize offal (MO) respectively as their main fibre source. The rabbits were randomly allocated to four experimental treatments of six rabbits per treatment while each treatment was replicated three times with two (2) rabbits per hutch in a completely randomized design. The result of growth performance revealed that average weight gain and feed conversion ratio were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the dietary treatments. Rabbits fed 20% BKT had superior weight gain compare with those fed other diets. Average feed intake was however not influenced (P>0.05) by the dietary treatments. It was concluded that 20% BKT can be included in the diet of grower rabbits without adverse effect on growth performance of rabbits.