Effect of Replacing Maize with Maize Milling Waste on the Performance of Rabbits, Organ Weights, and Enzyme Activities

Abstract

The potential of maize milling waste as feed supplement in rabbit diets and the e@ct on organ weights, plasma
glucose, serum transaminases and alkaline phosphatase were studied Twenty four, six weeks old male and female
exotic New Zealand white rabbits weighing 560-620g were fed three diets containing 0%( control), 50%,und
100% maize milling waste, in an eight week feeding trial-The experiment a1 design was completely randomized.
The maize milling waste was found to be high in nitrogen free extract (76.56%), low in crude protein (7.62%) and
fibre, (2.00%) respectively.
At 50%level of inclusion in the diet, maize milling wastegavesign$cantly (P<0.05) better weight gains than
the control and 100% level of inclusion..Protein efficiency ratio was also sign@cantly (P<0.05) better at 50%
inclusion, when compared with the diets containing the 0% (control ) and 100% levels of inclusion. Blood enzymes
from rabbits fed the trial diets didnot difer sign$cantly (P> 0.05) The alkaline phosphatase levels were similar.
(P>0.05) The results suggest that the diets met the calcium requirements of rabbits for bone mineralization, because
high level of alkaline phosphatase is generally associated with subnormal calcium status. There was no incidence of
enteritis or mortality among the treatment groups.