Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Weaner Rabbits Fed Graded Levels of Boiled Senna occidentalis Seed Meal

Abstract

Increasing cost remains a major impediment for use of quality feedstuff in the nutrition of animals in the Tropics. Conventional protein feedstuffs are the major unaffordable feedstuffs currently threatening production of rabbits. Therefore, the need for exploration of Senna occidentalis becomes desirable to reduce cost associated with production of rabbits for human consumption. This study aimed to establish this non-conventional feedstuff for feeding rabbit hence, forty five (45) mixed breeds weaned rabbits were used in the experiment which lasted for twelve weeks. The rabbits were randomly assigned to five (5) dietary treatments containing boiled Senna occidentalis seed meal (BSOSM) at 0.00 %, 2.50 %, 5.00 %, 7.50 % and 10.00 % inclusionlevels. Data collected revealed significant (p<0.05) differences for feed intake, body weight gain,feed conversion ratio and carcass dressing percentage. Based on the outcomes of this study, it can be inferred that BSOSM is of good nutritional quality if the anti-nutritional factors are eliminated or reduced through boiled process as used in this experiment. It was also concluded that the use of BSOSM at 7.5 % inclusion levels in the diets of weaned rabbits should be encouraged because it has no harmful effect on growth performance and carcass characteristics.