Growth Performance and Cost Implication of Feeding Grower Rabbits with Toasted Senna occidentalis Seed Meal

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding toasted sickle pod seed meal (TSSM) on the growth performance and its cost implication on grower rabbits. Forty rabbits were allotted to five dietary treatments of eight rabbits per treatment and replicated four times with 2 rabbits per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). Five experimental diets were compounded using TSSM at 0%, 2.5%, 5% 7.5% and 10% inclusion levels designated as treatments 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively. The result of growth parameters evaluated were not significantly (p>0.05) different across the dietary treatments as the level of TSSM increased in the diets. Total feed intake (TFI) ranged from 3201.20 to 3235.40g per rabbit while the total weight gain (TWG) varied from 930.00 g in T3 to 936.67g in T4.The results of the economic analysis showed that the cost of feed per kg produced decreased progressively as the levels of TSSM increased in the diets, while the cost per kg weight gain also declined from N219.77 in T1 to N89.41 in T5.It was concluded that feeding rabbits with TSSM up to 10% inclusion has no adverse effect on growth performance and has low cost implication on cost of feed per kg producedand feed cost per kg gain.