BONE MINERALIZATION CHARACTERISTICS OF RABBITS FED DIETS CONTAINING VARYING LEVELS OF ACHA OFFAL SUPPLEMENTED WITH MAXIGRAIN® ENZYME

Abstract

This study aimed at evaluating the bone mineralization characteristics of rabbits fed diets containing varying levels of acha offal (AO) supplemented with Maxigrain® enzymes. Forty-eight (48) rabbits of mixed breeds and similar live weight were used in the experiment which lasted for 42 days. Six diets (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6) were compounded to be iso-caloric (2700 Kcal/Kg ME) and iso-nitrogenous (18%) such that T1 had % AO with 0ppm maxigrain enzyme (control)T2 had 15% AO 0ppm maxigrain enzyme, T3 also had 15% AO but supplemented with 200ppm maxigrain enzyme T4 had %AO with 0ppm maxigrain enzyme supplementation (control) Treatment T5 had 30% AO with 0ppm maxigrain enzyme supplementation while T6 had 30% but supplemented with 200ppm maxigrain enzyme. The result revealed a significant (P<0.05) increase in Tibia bone density as the level of acha offal increased from 0% (1.11), 15% (1.22) and 30% (1.30). However, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Sodium and Chlorine were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by increasing levels of acha offal. Enzyme supplementation at 200ppm significantly (P<0.05) reduced Calcium (29.25mg/g), Magnesium (0.25mg/g), Phosphorus (10.68mg/g), Sodium (0.62 Mg/g) and Chloride (0.52 mg/g) levels in the bone but did not significantly (P>0.05) affect the tibia bone density. There was significant (P<0.05)  interaction effects of acha offal and enzyme supplementation on tibia bone density whereby T5  (1.22m/g) was significantly lower than T6 (1.38m/g).Based on the findings of this syudy, conclusion of acha offal up to 30% improved tibia bone density in rabbits.