PERFORMANCE OF WEANER RABBITS FED ENSILED CASSAVA PEEL, BOVINE BLOOD AND RUMEN CONTENT MIXTURES

Abstract

The performance of weaner rabbits fed ensiled cassava peel, bovine blood and rumen content mixtures (CABLORUM) were investigated. CABLORUM were ensiled for 14days at different ratios (1:1:1, 2:1:1, 1:2:1 and 1:1:2). The silage was added to formulate diets designated as diet 1 (0% CABLORUM), diet 2(1:1:1), diet 3(2:1:1), diet 4(1:2:1), diet 5(1:1:2). Thirty weaner rabbits of about 5-6weeks of age with average weight of 504g were randomly allocated to the five dietary treatments and fed for 70days. The parameters evaluated were weight gain, length gain, chest girth gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio. The
results showed that average final body weight, average daily weight gain, total length gain and total chest girth gain were not significant among the dietary treatments (p>0.05). However, average daily feed intake (ADFI) of rabbits fed diets 1, 3 and 4 were similar but lower than those fed diets 2 and 5 (p<0.05). The FCR of rabbits fed diet 1 was similar to Diets 2, 3 and 4 but lower than Diet 5 (p<0.05). The cost analysis showed that feed cost per kg and feed cost per kg weight gain was lower in CABLORUM based diets (p<0.05), particularly when mixed in a ratio of 2:1:1. It was concluded that ensiled CABLORUM could be included in diets of weaner rabbits without adverse effects, while CABLORUM at 2:1:1 ratio gave the least cost per kg weight gain. It was therefore recommended for adoption by rabbit farmers to reduce cost.