Growth performance and apparent nutrient digestibility coefficient of weaned rabbits fed sun dried cassava peel meal as replacement for maize

Abstract

The growth performance and apparent nutrient digestibility co-efficient of weaned rabbits fed sun dried cassava peel meal diet as a replacement for maize were determined. Sixty (60) mixed breed rabbit of both sexes (30 bucks and 30 does) with average initial weight of 559.58 – 698.31g were used in a nine week feeding trial. Five (5) experimental diets were formulated comprising 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 percent levels of cassava peel meal (CPM) as a replacement for maize, comprising of treatments 1 (control), 2, 3, 4, and 5 respectively in a completely randomized design. Growth performance parameters (feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio) were determined, while nutrient digestibility coefficients were calculated using appropriate formula. The result showed that final weight gain, total weight gain, weekly weight gain, average daily gain and feed conversion ratio recorded significant (p < 0.05) difference among dietary treatments. Treatment four 75% replacement, had the least total weight gain, (627.38g). The total feed intake showed no significant (p > 0.05) difference, between dietary treatments, though treatment two (2) recorded least numerical value of 3981.28g. Treatment four (4) recorded the worst FCR when compared with other dietary treatments. The apparent nutrient digestibility co-efficient for crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, NFE and Ash recorded significant (p < 0.05) differences between dietary treatments. The replacement of sun dried cassava peel meal with maize did not adversely affect the rabbit at a replacement level of 25 – 50%.