Nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilization of rabbits fed on graded levels of dried okra leaves (Abelmoschus esculentus)

Abstract

Forty-five unsexed rabbits crosses (Chinchilla x New Zealand White) 5-6 weeks old with average weight of 720g were used in a 70 day feeding trial to evaluate the nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilization of growing rabbits fed on varying levels of dried okra leaves (DOL). The rabbits were assigned into five dietary treatment groups (T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5) containing DOL at 0.00%, 2.50%, 5.00%, 7.50% and 10.00% inclusion levels respectively. Each treatment had 9 rabbits consisting of three replicates with each replicate having 3 rabbits in a completely randomized design. Data collected were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using a general linear procedure of SAS (2007) and significant means were separated by Duncan’s multiple range test of same statistical package at 5% level of probability. Results obtained indicated that digestibility of dry matter, ether extract, and nitrogen free extract showed no significant difference (P>0.05) among the treatments. However, the digestibility of crude protein, ash, and crude fibre were significantly difference (P<0.05) among the treatments. The nitrogen utilization of the experimental diets indicated that the diets were not significant (P>0.05) in the nitrogen intake, faecal nitrogen and nitrogen output. It was concluded that DOL can be included in diets for growing rabbits at 2.50% level of dried okra leaves inclusion is recommended for adoption by farmers to maximize nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilization.