UTILISATION OF MAIZE OFFAL ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF WEANER  RABBITS

F. F.  Ajimohun; D. O.  Oshibanjo; A. C.  Nwamo; V. O.  Adelowo; C. I. Emennaa; M. A.  Akwashiki; A. I Izang

doi:10.51791/njap.vi.4731

Authors

F. F. Ajimohun National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau state.
D. O. Oshibanjo University of Jos, Plateau State.
A. C. Nwamo National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau state.
V. O. Adelowo Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, N.V.R.I., Vom, Plateau State
C. I. Emennaa Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, N.V.R.I., Vom, Plateau State
M. A. Akwashiki University of Jos, Plateau State
A. I Izang University of Jos, Plateau State.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.4731

Keywords:

Rabbits, maize offal, groundnut haulms, performance

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the proximate analysis of maize offal and growth performance
of weaner rabbits fed varying levels of maize offal as replacement for wheat offal in a completely
randomized design. A total of sixty weaner rabbits of both sexes average weight of 535g were randomly
allocated to five dietary treatments in which groundnut haulms formed 20% of the diet. Five isonitrogenous diets were formulated to meet 16% crude protein nutritional requirements of the weaner rabbits and similar levels of crude fibre by varying the levels of maize offal respectively in which
groundnut haulms constituted 20% of each diet. The diets were designated T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5. T1 contained wheat offal which served as the control, while treatment (T2-T5) contained maize offal at 25, 50, 75, and 100% respectively. Data were collected on feed intake and weight gain. The proximate
analysis obtained for maize offals is crude protein (8.26%), crude fibre (16.99%), ether extract (4.28%), ash (4.26%), Nitrogen free extract (66.21%) and metabolisable energy (2970.25Kcal/kg). Results revealed there were no significant difference (p>0.05) between treatment means for the average weight gain of rabbits. Mortality was less than 5% throughout the study. The results show that rabbits have the capacity to utilise agro industrial by-product of maize which is maize offal in diet.