PERFORMANCE OF GROWING RABBITS FED CASSAVA PEEL MEAL ENRICHED WITH MINERAL SALT WITH OR WITHOUT LYSINE

Abstract

The cyanogenic and high fibre content of cassava peel have been identified as a major limitations to its utilization as the primary feed ingredient in livestock. Several processing methods and addition of some enzymes and minerals enhances its utilization. This study was conducted on the performance of growing rabbits fed cassava peel meal (CPM) enriched with lysine and two sources of salt. A total of sixteen rabbits were used for the feeding trial. The rabbits were randomly allocated into four dietary treatments allotted as T1 (salt+lysine), T2 (salt-lysine), T3 (trona+lysine), and T4 (trona-lysine) and four replicates with one rabbit per replicate, in a completely randomized design (CRD). The study lasted for fifty-six days. Data were collected for growth performance. Data collected was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), using SPSS version 20 and differences between means was separated using LSD. Observed results showed no significant difference (P>0.05) in initial weight, daily forage intake, daily concentrate intake and total daily feed intake. However, there were significant differences (p<0.05) in final weight, gross weight gain, daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Final weight of rabbit showed significant difference (P<0.05) across the treatment mean with rabbit fed trona+lysine, having a higher significant value of 1286.00g than salt+lysine (1181.39g), salt-lysine (1173.11g) and trona-lysine (1194.00g) respectively. Weight gain however, had values of 839.50g for the treatment group fed trona+lysine), which was significantly higher than the rabbit fed salt+lysine (740.00g), salt-lysine treated group (720.00g) and trona-lysine treatment group (744.00g). Feed conversion ratio also show significant increase across the treatment with a value range of 8.58 to 9.74. Thus, the fortification of CPM supplemented diet with trona and lysine improve the growth performance of growing rabbits