GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF WEANER RABBITS FED AFRICAN WILD GRAPE LEAF (Lannea microcarpa)

Abstract

The study was conducted at Teaching and Research Farm of Department of animal science, Kano University of Science and Technology Wudil to determine the growth performance and carcass characteristics of weaner rabbit fed varying level of concentrate. A total of twenty mongrel weaner rabbits (mixed breeds) were randomly allocated to Five (5) diets formulated with African wild grape leaf (meal) at 0, 5, 10,15 and 20% levels designated as treatments T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. Completely randomized design CRD was employed and each treatment was replicated 4 times. The experiment lasted for 8 weeks. The results on performance showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) in the final body weight (900-1325g), daily feed intake (900.00-100.22g) and daily weight gain, (7.123-15.774g). The feed conversion ratio (5.772-16.831) and the feeds cost per kilogram of weight of gains (496.4-1430.6g) were significantly (P<0.05) recorded by feeding the dietary treatments. The cost tends to decrease T1—T3, however, it increases in treatment T4 and T5. The results showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05), carcass weights (662.50- 990.60g) and dressing percentage (50.750- 64.85). There were significant differences (P <0.05) in the liver, lungs and kidney weights (22.3-38.3g; 5.05-10.9g; 6.25- 9.95g). It can be concluded that in cooperation of African wild grape (leaf) in the diet of weaner rabbits was best at 10% inclusion level without any depression on the growth performance, carcass and organs weights with significant reduction in the feed cost.