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EFFECT OF ENSILED AND SUNDRIED RUMEN DIGESTA FROM CATTLE SHEEP AND GOAT ON THE PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF WEANER RABBIT
Abstract:
Two feeding trials were conducted using a total of 35 weaner rabbits to evaluate the effects of ensiled and sundried rumen digesta from cattle sheep and goat on the performance of weaner rabbits. In experiment 1, the ensiled and sundried rumen digesta were included in the weaner rabbit diets at 20% dietary level in a completely randomized design. There were seven (7) treatments group including the control and each replicated 5 times with each rabbits as a replicate. The rabbits were randomly allotted to the treatment groups and housed individually in a cage. The experimental diets were designated T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 and T7, formulated to be isocarloric and iso-nitrogenous. The feeding trial lasted for 8 weeks during which experimental feed and water were given ad libitum. Parameters monitored were daily feed intake, daily body gain, daily water intake, feed to gain ratio, feed coat/kg gain, carcass and haemtology such as pack cell volume (PCV), red blood cells count (RBC), white blood count (WBC), haemoglobin (HB) total protein (TP) and the differentials. Average daily feed intake and weight gain were significantly higher (P<0.05) and similar in rabbits fed the control and 20% inclusion of sundried sheep rumen digesta (SSRD) (69.21g, 59.99g and 18.5 12.8g) respectively. The feed to gain ratio and feed/kg gain also followed the same trend. The daily water intake was significantly higher (P<0.50) in SSRD than the others. All the nutrients in the control diets were better utilized (P<0.05) by rabbits than the rumen digetsa of the cattle, sheep and goat. SSRD was better utilized than that of cattle and goats. All the carcass parts and internal organs were significantly influenced (P<0.05) except the lungs, loin, forelimb and length of small intestine. All the haematology indices except PCV, RBC, TP, monocytes and eosinophils were significantly (P<0.05) affected by treatments. In experiment 2, SSRD was included in rabbit diets at graded levels of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50% to make 6 treatments. Thirty (30) weaner rabbits were randomly allotted to the treatments in a ix completely randomized design having 5 animals per treatments replicated 5 times. Water and feed were given ad libitum parameters monitored were the same as in experiment 1. Average feed intake, weight gain, feed to gain ratio and feed cost/kg gain were similar to the rabbits fed the control and 30% dietary inclusion of SSRD but were significantly higher than others. Water intake was consume more (P<0.05) by rabbits on 50% SSRD. All the carcass part and internal organs were significantly affected (P<0.05) except slaughtered weight, lungs, hearts, kidney, thigh, forelimb, stomach and small intestine. All the haematological indices were significantly (P<0.05) influenced. The result indicated that SSRD can be included optimally in rabbit diets at 30% without any adverse effects.
EFFECT OF ENSILED AND SUNDRIED RUMEN DIGESTA FROM CATTLE SHEEP AND GOAT ON THE PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF WEANER RABBIT
