Performance and carcass characteristics of weaner rabbits fed varying levels of spent sorghum residue.

摘要

Twenty-four weaner rabbits of mixed sexes and breeds, weighing an average of 0.85 kg, were randomly allotted to four dietary groups of six animals each, in a completely randomized design. The rabbits were fed on four diets varying in spent sorghum residue (SSR) levels of 0, 10, 20 and 30%. Dry matter intake (DMI), daily liveweight gain (DWG), feed efficiency (FE), carcass yield, gut parameters and economics of SSR inclusion were studied for eight weeks. The DMI (g/day) was significantly (P<0.05) higher for diets 1 and 2 (70.22 and 68.40, respectively) compared to the 61.85 and 60.95 obtained for the 20 and 30% SSR diets, respectively. Animals on diet 2 had a significantly (P<0.01) better liveweight gain (11.36 g/day) compared to those on the other diets. The lowest DWG was observed for rabbits on the 30% SSR diet (9.49 g/day). The efficiency of feed utilization (gfeed/ggain) was significantly (P<0.01) lowest for animals on diets 2 and 3 (6.02 and 6.04, respectively). The carcass yield was significantly (P<0.01) highest and similar in diets 1 and 2 (844.45 and 875.31 g, respectively). Dressing percentage was, however, significantly (P<0.05) higher for rabbits on diets 1 (54.24%) and 4 (53.97%), while 51.92 and 51.57% were recorded for diets 2 and 3, respectively. The weight of kidney fat and abdominal fat as % of body weight increased with increasing dietary levels of SSR inclusion (P<0.01). The cost of feed per kg body weight gain (N) showed that the highest amount (N232.04) was observed for diet 1 (0% SSR, control diet) compared to the N 191.13, N 169.93 and N 169.83 obtained for diets 2, 3 and 4, respectively. In conclusion, SSR included at between 10 and 30% of the diet is adequate for growing rabbits..