GROWTH INDICES AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF GROWER RABBITS FED GRADED LEVELS OF RIPE PLANTAIN (Musa paradisiaca) PEELS SUPPLEMENTED WITH PHYTASE ENZYME

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted using 27 New Zealand White growers’ rabbit (8 weeks of age) to assess growth performance and carcass characteristics of the rabbits fed graded levels of ripe plantain (Musa paradisiaca) peels supplemented with phytase enzyme. The rabbits were randomly assigned into three (3) treatment and three (3) replica with nine animal per treatment and three animal per replicate, in which ripe plantain peels supplemented with phytase enzyme was used to partially replace maize at 0%, 20%, 40% respectively. Feed and water were given ad-libitum during the period of the study. At the end of the feeding trail, one rabbit from each replicate was selected and starved for 6hrs without feed but only water was given, so as to reduce the intestinal content of the animal. The rabbits were weighed and slaughtered and the visceral organs were eviscerated. The result showed that growth indices of the rabbits reduced with increase in inclusion of test feed ingredients. There was no significant effect (p>0.05) of the dieatary treatments on carcass characteristics of the rabbits except hind limb and kidney. Diet containing plantain peels supplemented with phytase enzymes did not have any significantly effects (p>0.05) on the growth performance of growing rabbits. It was concluded that rabbit can tolerates plantain peel in their diets at 40% level of inclusion without any detrimental effects on the growth performance and carcass.