GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND MEAT QUALITIES OF WEANER RABBITS FED GRADED LEVELS OF BOILED NEGRO COFFEE (Senna occidentalis) SEED MEAL.

Abstract

A twelve (12) weeks feeding trial was carried out to determine the growth performance and meat qualities of weaner rabbits fed graded levels of boiled Senna occidentalis seed meal(BSOM). A total of fifive (5) experimental diets were formulated to include BSOM at inclusion levels of 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10% respectively. Forty five (45) weaner rabbits of mixed breeds and sexes were randomly apportioned to five (5) dietary treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD. The result obtained for average weekly feed intake showed significant difference (P<0.05) between treatments with reduced feed intake as levels of BSOM increases across all the groups. The average weekly weight gain indicated significant difference (P<0.05) among treatments and increases as inclusions of BSOM increases up to 07.50 % inclusion level and decreases at 10.00 % inclusion level. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) tends to increase as inclusion levels of BSOM increase. Significant difference (P<0.05) were also observed in the protein efficiency ratio (PER) and Energy efficiency ratio (EER). All parameters evaluated for meat quality; water
holding capacity (WHC), meat pH, cooking yield (Cy) and cooking loss (Cl), indicated significant difference. The better result in terms of weight gain, FCR and meat qualities were obtained in diet 4 containing 07.50 % BSOM. As regards to these findings, it was concluded that 07.50 % BSOM can be included in the diets of growing rabbits without any deleterious effect.