NUTRITIONAL POTENTIAL OF IPOMEA, CENTROSEMA, PUERARIA, EMILIA AND TRIDAX FORAGES IN MIXED FEEDS FOR WEANER RABBITS

Abstract

Five forage species Ipomea batata, Centrosema pubescens, Pueraria phaseoloide, Emilia sanchifolia and Tridax procumbens were evaluated for growth promotion in a mixed feeding regime comprising 50g of rabbit pellet plus forage (ad libitum). Thirty weaner rabbits (6 weeks old) were randomly assigned in a completely randomized design in equal groups of six rabbit (2 bucks and 4 does) to the forages during a 13 week feeding trial at the University of Calabar Livestock Research Farm. Result showed significant (P<0.05) difference to the mean daily forage consumption among the species with the values 247.92g (I. batata), 161.95 (C. pubescens), 167.28g (P. phaseoloide), 274.14g (E. sanchifolia) and 291.93g (T. procumbens). No significant (P>0.05) difference were observe in the mean daily dry matter intake, the values of which ranged between 75.26 and 81.30g. while the initial body weight were not significantly different, the forages had significant effect on the final body weights of the rabbit with the values of 2365.20g (I. batata), 2179.74g (C. pubescens), 1662.45g (P. phaseoloide), 1862.02g(E. sanchifolia) and 2352.72 (T. procumbens).