ENHANCING RABBIT PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS TRAITS: EXPLORING FICUS EXASPERATA AS A POTENT FEED ADDITIVE

Résumé

This study aimed to investigate the effect of Ficus exasperata as an additive on the performance and carcass traits of rabbits. A total of 36 mixed-breed rabbits were randomly distributed among four treatment groups, with each group comprising nine rabbits. Further, each group was replicated three times, with three rabbits constituting a replicate. Rabbits in Treatment 1 were fed a basal diet without any additive, while those in T2, T3, and T4 group received F. exasperata leaf meal at 3, 6, and 9 %, respectively. Results indicated that the inclusion of F. exasperata leaf meal in the diet significantly (P<0.05) affected both feed intake and weight gain of the rabbits. Rabbits in T4 group displayed the
lowest (P<0.05) feed conversion ratio. As F. exasperata addition increased in the diet, there was a marked improvement (P<0.05) in carcass traits, signifying the animals' enhanced feed utilization. This study suggests that inclusion levels of up to 9 % can be fed to rabbits without adverse effects on the performance or carcass traits.