REPLACEMENT VALUE OF AFRICAN LOCUST BEAN (Parkia biglobosa) FRUIT PULP FOR MAIZE IN WEANER RABBITS DIET

Abstract

A feeding trial of 84 days was conducted to assess the replacement value of African Locust bean fruit pulp for maize in weaner rabbits diet. Five diets were formulated, such that 100% maize and 0.00% fruit pulp of African fruit pulp at (T1), 75% maize and 25% inclusion of African locust bean at (T2), 50% maize and 50% African locust bean pulp as (T3), 25% maize and 75% African fruit pulp at (T4) while (T5) contain 100% fruit pulp of African locust bean and 0.00% maize respectively. Seventy five (75) weaner rabbits (5-6wks old) with average initial weight between 610.67g -622.60g were randomly allocated in a complete randomized design (CRD) experiment to the five diets with fifteen (15) weaner rabbits in each treatment which were subdivided into three (3) replicates having five (5) weaner rabbits in each replicate. The weaner rabbits were housed in individual cage compartment. Proximate composition of the experimental diets fed to weaner rabbits carried out indicated that T1 had dry matter content of 93.28 %, crude protein of 19.80 % and also 12.41 % of crude fiber. Ether extract was higher in T5 with 8.48 %, while nitrogen free extract contained in T3 had the highest value of 51.17 %. However ash content in T5 has the highest value of 7.83 %. The metabolizable energy in all the dietary treatment shows that T5had the highest value of 3013.21 ME/Kcal/Kg. Data were collected on daily feed intake and weekly weight. Feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, energy efficiency ratio, nutrient digestibility and feed cost benefit N (kg) were calculated. Weaner rabbits fed 75% maize and 25% African fruit pulp (T2) consumed more feed and significantly gained more weight P<0.05 than those fed the other diets. Feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and energy efficiency ratio were not significantly (P>.0.05) influence by the treatment diets. Average feed cost of production with inclusion of maize was estimated at N311.25 in T1 while the African locust bean fruit pulp inclusion was N161.81in T5, a cost difference of N149.44, this resulted to a progressive reduction in the cost treatment of feed with increase in the level of fruit pulp of African locust bean meal. The results of this study indicated that when 25% fruit pulp of African locust replaced maize, the rabbits performed better than the control diet and also of more economical option.