GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT MORPHOMETRY AND VISCERAL ORGAN WEIGHTS OF GROWER RABBIT FED DRIED GINGER (Zingiberofficinale) ROOT MEAL

Abstract

Twenty-eight grower rabbits of mixed sexes and breeds were used in the study to determine the effect of dietary Dried Ginger Root Meal (DGRM) on gastrointestinal tract morphometry and visceral organ weights. The rabbits were assigned by weight (average weight 557.09g) to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. Each treatment had seven replicates. Four treatment diets; T₁, T₂, T₃ and T₄ were formulated to include 0%, 15%, 25% and 35% of DGRM respectively and were administered to the rabbits. The experiment lasted for 8 weeks. Six rabbits were randomly selected from each treatment and sacrificed and eviscerated. Results showed that mean relative weights of the stomach, oesophagus and pancreas as well as the mean lengths of the oesophagus and intestines did not show any significant (P>0.05) variation. It was found that significant differences (P<0.05) existed in the mean lengths of the proximal colon and caecum as well as the mean relative weights of the liver, kidneys, heart and lungs in rabbits fed DGRM. It can be concluded that the inclusion of DGRM in the diets of growing rabbits significantly (P<0.05) increased the length of the caecum and visceral organs weight.