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Performance Evaluation of Growing Rabbit Fed Diets Containing Varying Inclusion Levels of Centrosema pubescence or Calapogonium mucunoides in the Derived Savannah Zone of Nigeria



Author(s)

O. A. Aderinola, O. O. Ojebiyi, T. A. Rafiu, J. A. Akinlade and L. O. Adepoju

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DOI:10.17265/2161-6256/2011.11A.015

Department of Animal Production and Health, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria

Twenty-five (25) mixed bred weaner rabbits (averaged 576-602 ± 36 g) were used to investigate the nutrient potential and digestibility of Centrosema pubescence and Calapogonium mucunoides. The forages were cut, air dried and milled. Five experimental pelletized diets were formulated. Diet T₁ contained no forage, diet T₂ and T₃ contained Centrosema pubescence at 10% and 20% inclusion level respectively; Calapogonium mucunoides was incorporated into diet T₄ and T₅ at 10% and 20% inclusion level respectively, mainly in substitution to maize, palm kernel and ground nut cakes. The animals were randomly distributed to the diets. Average daily feed intake and average daily weight gain were monitored. The experiment lasted for ten weeks. Data obtained were subjected to one way analysis of variance. The highest final weight (1,321 g) was observed in T₁ though similar to T₂ (1,181 g) (10% Centrosema pubescens) T₃ (1,247 g) (20% C. Pubescens) and T₄ (1,193 g) (10% Calapogonium mucunoides) and the lowest final weight (1,017 g) was observed in T₅ (20% C. mucunoides). Average daily weight gain also followed the same trend: 11.7, 9.6, 10.4, 9.6 and 8.4 g/d in T₁, T₂, T₃, T₄, and T₅ respectively, the difference between the control or T₃ treatment (20% C. Pubescens) on one hand and T₅ (20% C. mucunoides) in the other hand being significant (P < 0.05). For the feed intake, values were 66.0, 62.4, 55.9, 61.3 and 58.8 g/d for treatment T₁ to T₅ respectively with T₁ and T₂ > T₃ and T₅ (P < 0.05). The best feed efficiency were observed for T₃ and T₁ (0.19 and 0.18 g gain/g feed intake) and the worst for T₅ (0.14 g/g) (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the incorporation of Centrosema pubescence at 20% inclusion level gives results similar to the control and better than incorporation of Calapogonium mucunoides.

Rabbit, growth Centrosema pubescence, Calapogonium mucunoides.