RESPONSE OF RABBITS FED DIETS CONTAINING GRADED LEVELS OF ROASTED DATE PALM (PHOENIX DACTYLFERA L) SEED MEAL

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to assess the part replacement of maize with roasted date palm seed meal. The experimental diet was fed to weaner rabbits at different dietary treatment levels of 0 %, 5 %, 10 %, 15 %, and 20 % respectively. A total 45 rabbits of mixed sexes of ages of 5-6 weeks and average initial weights of 555.67-600g were used for the experiment for a period of 12 weeks in a CRD. The rabbits were randomly allocated to five (5) treatments with 9 rabbits. Each treatment was replicated thrice with three (3) rabbits each. A known quantity of feed and water were provided ad-libitum and record of daily
feed intake and weekly body weights were taken. At the end of the 12 weeks feeding period the result showed that there were significant differences (p<0.05) in the final weights, total weight gain, average daily weight gain, nutrient digestibility, cost analysis of the rabbits across the dietary treatments. Final weights of rabbits ranged between 1664g to 1738.89g. The result suggests that rabbits have the capacity to utilize roasted date palm seed meal effectively and could perform better even up to 20 % inclusion in diet.