EFFECT OF VARIOUS DIETARY LEVELS OF SUNFLOWER SEED MEAL ON THE PERFORMANCE OF GROWING RABBITS IN SUDANO-SAHELIAN ZONE

Authors

  • A. C. Okonkwo University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
  • J. U. Igwebuike University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
  • H. U. Tarfa University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
  • B. I. Okon University of Uyo, P.M.B. 1017, Uyo.
  • B. I. Umoh University of Uyo, P.M.B. 1017, Uyo.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.v22i2.2432

Keywords:

Sunflower seed meal, Rabbits, Sudano-Sahelian zone

Abstract

The experiment which lasted for seventy (70) days was conducted to determine the effects of various dietary levels of sunflower seed meal (SSM) on the performance of growing rabbits. Thirty- two (32) indigenous breeds of rabbits obtained from small-scale producers were used in study. They were individually weighed and randomly assigned to the four (4) dietary treatments, in which 0,10, 20 and 30% of the groundnut cake was replaced by SSM, respectively. The diets contained 2391.76, 2387.44, 2383.12 and 2378.80 Kcal ME/kg for diets 1,2,3 and 4, respectively. The crude protein (CP) was approximately 14.0% for the four (4) experimental diets. The diets, in mash form were fed to the rabbits ad libitum. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) amongst the treatments in all the parameters examined. However, he incorporation of SSM resulted in a considerable decrease in feed cost with increasing levels of SSM. Thc. results of this Study therefore suggest that 30% or more of the GNC could be replaced by SSM in the diets of growing rabbits without deleterious effect on performance.

Author Biographies

A. C. Okonkwo, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.

Department of Animal Science

J. U. Igwebuike, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.

Department of animal science

H. U. Tarfa, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.

Department of animal science

B. I. Okon, University of Uyo, P.M.B. 1017, Uyo.

Department of Animal Science

B. I. Umoh, University of Uyo, P.M.B. 1017, Uyo.

Department of animal science

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Published

2021-01-10

How to Cite

Okonkwo, A. C., Igwebuike, J. U., Tarfa, H. U., Okon, B. I., & Umoh, B. I. (2021). EFFECT OF VARIOUS DIETARY LEVELS OF SUNFLOWER SEED MEAL ON THE PERFORMANCE OF GROWING RABBITS IN SUDANO-SAHELIAN ZONE. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production, 22(2), 150–154. https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.v22i2.2432

Issue

Vol. 22 No. 2 (1995)

Section

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