Comparative performance of young growing rabbits fed diets containing cracked and cooked jackbean and jackbean soaked in water prior to cooking

Abstract

Studies were conducted to determine the effects of dietary inclusion of cracked and cooked jackbean ICAC JOB) and jackbean that was soaked in water for 72 hours prior to cooking (SACJB) on the performance of young growing rabbits. Five experimental diets were made such that diet I (control) contained no jackbean while diets 2 and 3 contained CACIB at 20% and 30% levels, respectively; diets 4 and 5 contained SAC B also at 20% and 30% levels, respectively. Each diet was fcd to a group of 5 rabbits individually housed for 8 weeks. Feed intakes of the control group and groups on CACIB diets were significantly (P<0.05) smaller than those of the groups on SACJB diets. The groups on 20% and 30% SACJB diets also recorded significantly (P<0.05) higher growth rate than the groups on the control and CARB diets. The feed/gain ratios of the groups followed similar pattern. The weights of the hearts, livers and lungs were not affected by the treatments (P>0.05). There were also no significant differences (P>0.05) in dressing percentage of the groups. Thigh muscles of the groups on SACJB diets contained more fat and less protein relative to the other three groups.