PERFORMANCE OF GROWING RABBITS FED DIETS CONTAINING DIFFERENT PROTEIN SOURCES

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the performance, carcass traits, haematology and biochemical parameters of weaner rabbits fed different plant protein sources. The feeding trial was conducted with fifty (50) weaner rabbits obtain from VOM, Plateau State. The rabbits were randomly allotted to the experimental diets. The weaner rabbits were managed intensively. Water and feeds were given ad  libutum. Drugs were also administered and deworming done appropriately. The experiment lasted for a period of eight weeks. The rabbits were fed diets containing five different plant protein sources (soybean, ground nut cake, sesame, pigean pea and bambara nut) designated as T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. All the performance variables recorded in this study were not significantly affected by the different plant protein sources except for daily feed intake. Most of the carcass traits showed significant treatment effects except for organs such as heart, kidney, head, feet, tail, shoulder and thigh. The haematological indices also showed no significant differences across dietary treatments. All the parameters analysed for biochemical indices showed no significant differences across the dietary treatments except for cholesterol.