ABSTRACT
The growth and haematological response of growing rabbits to
diets containing graded levels of sun dried bovine rumen content (SBRC) were
studied. Five diets containing 0 (control), 10, 20, 30 and 40 % sun dried
bovine rumen content coded as T1,T2,T3,T4 and T5, respectively, were compared.
Twenty growing rabbits were randomly assigned to the treatments; each treatment
had four experimental units. The rabbits were fed and watered ad libitum. The
parameters measured were feed consumption, water consumption, body weight gain,
mortality, feed conversion ratio, feed cost per kg gain, feed cost per kg feed,
live weight, dressing percentage, initial body weight, weight of internal
organs and haematological parameters. Data collection was done for a period of
nine weeks, but the experiment lasted for ten weeks. Statistical analysis was
carried out on the data for daily feed consumption, daily water consumption,
and daily body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, feed cost per kg gain, and
feed cost per kg feed, dressing percentage, weight of internal organs and
haematological parameters. There was no significant difference (p> 0.05)
amongst the treatment means. Numerically, however, the rabbits on T5 recorded
the best water and feed consumption, body weight gain, feed cost per kg feed,
weights of internal organs and White Blood Cell count (WBC), while those on T4
had the best feed cost per kg gain and feed conversion ratio. The best Packed
Cell Volume (PCV) and Red Blood Cell count (RBC) were obtained with the rabbits
fed T3 while T1 had the best dressing percentage. No mortality was recorded
throughout the study.
The study indicated that SBRC could be fed to rabbits at 30%
level of inclusion since it recorded the best feed conversion ratio and feed
cost per kg gain, thus providing a cheaper source of feeding and also helps in
reducing environmental pollution.
CHAPTER
ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The need to improve rabbit production in Nigeria for
increased supply of animal protein is no longer in doubt due to the high cost
of Chicken, Pork and beef. Bamgbose, et al
(2004) also supports the necessity of exploring other less common but potential
sources of animal protein such as rabbits. Recently, there has been increased
awareness in rabbit production. The advantages projected include the high
reproductive rate, rapid maturity, high genetic potential, efficient feed
utilization, limited competition with humans for food and high quality
nutritious meat (Cheeke, et al, 1986).
Also rabbits have been introduced into West Africa as farm animals of economic
value, low in fat, succulent, nicely flavoured and providing a palatable change
for chicken and other meats, (Owen, 1976; Aduku and Olukosi, 1990). It has also
been reported by Aduku and Olukosi (1990) that rabbit meat plays an important
role in the prevention of vascular disease due to its extremely low cholesterol
and sodium levels. This makes rabbit meat a good source of animal protein for
coronary heart patients and people on low sodium diet. Rabbit meat also has no
religions taboos regulating its consumption.
Rabbits are able to thrive on non-conventional feed stuffs
(Omole, 1982) and forages (Aduku and Olukosi 1990). Rabbits are being
maintained solely on all forage diets with encouraging weight gains (Selepov,
1964; Perez and San Sebastrain, 1970). However, these investigators used
temperate forages, which are known to have on the average higher crude protein
and lower fibre contents, (Oyenuga 1968, Miltroy, 1972) and have higher
nutritive value than tropical forages. Their utilization of large forage diet
had been shown to
Feed accounts for the dominant input in animal production
ranging from 60-70% of the total cost of production (Nworgu, et al.,
1999). Similarly, feed ingredient account for over 90% of compound feed
industry. Therefore, the relationship between feed ingredient and animal
product output is both direct and obvious. It has been observed that
conventional feedstuffs are very expensive and scarce, the high cost and
scarcity derived from crippling realities that are characteristics of the
economics of developing countries. (Esonu et al,
2001; 2002; 2004). Conventional ingredients are expensive since they suffer
from stiff competition with channels in the food chain which command higher
priority and can pay higher prices than the compound feed industry.
Nigerian’s are amongst the lowest consumers of animal
protein in Africa (Egbunike, 1999) in spite of her numerous natural and human
resources. The average per capita protein daily intake is below the minimum
stipulated by Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) (1988) and World Health
Organization (WHO) (2005). The estimated protein intake in North America,
Western and Eastern Europe has been put at 66g, 39g and 35g per head per day
respectively, while in Africa and indeed Nigeria the figure stands at 11g per
head per day (Lamorde, 1991). Regrettably, animal products contribute 15 to 20%
of total protein intake of Nigerians (Federal
This particular research work is aimed at exploring the
potentials of sun dried bovine rumen content (SBRC) in the diets and
performance of growing rabbits. It is expected that from this research, useful
suggestions would be made that could be favourable to both small and large
scale farmers.
1.1 Aims
and Objectives of the Study
(i)
To test if sun dried bovine rumen
content (SBRC) can be used to partly replace any of the conventional protein
feed stuffs.
(ii)
To determine the best dietary level
of sun dried bovine rumen content (SBRC) that can be fed to rabbits.
(iii)
To reduce the cost of rabbit
production by reducing the cost of feeding.
(iv)
To examine if sun dried bovine rumen
content (SBRC) has any toxic or anti nutritional effect on growing rabbits.
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Item Type: Postgraduate Material | Attribute: 52 pages | Chapters: 1-5
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