Performance, blood indices and carcass yield of grower rabbits fed diet containing , and leaf meals Moringa oleifera Aspilia africana Azadirachta indica

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to examine the effect of feeding varying dietary levels of Moringa oleifera meal (MOM), Aspilia africana meal (AAM) and Azadirachta indica meal (AIM) on performance, blood indices and carcass yield of grower rabbits. Eight one rabbits were grouped into 9 treatment, each treatment were replicated thrice, containing 3 rabbits per replicate. Diets containing MOM, AAM and AIM at 0, 15 and 30% respectively were formulated. Rabbits fed inclusion levels of 15%, 30% MOM and 15% AAM (4.92g, 4.90g and 4.95 g respectively) had the best feed conversion ratio. However, the inclusion of 30% MOM in the diet increased the weight gain and better protein intake. The nitrogen intake, nitrogen absorbed and retention followed the same trend. Inclusion levels of the leaves had no negative effect on the blood indices of rabbit fed the dietary treatments. Rabbits on 30% MOM had significantly (p<0.05) higher slaughtered weight (1,224.3 g), carcass weight (902.64 g), dressing percentage (61.58%), loin (194.20 g) and shoulder (193.05 g) weights. It was concluded that inclusion of 30% MOM in the diet of grower rabbit had the best performance.