Effects of Rumen Epithelial Scrapings Inclusion In Diets For Grower Rabbits

Abstract

Twenty-five (25) Crossbred grower rabbits were used to assess the effects of Rumen Epithelial Scrapings (RES) inclusion in the diets for rabbits. The five treatment groups consisting of five replicates of one rabbit per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The dietary treatments comprised graded levels of RES at 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10% in T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 diets respectively. Total feed offered was 100g/rabbit/day. Feed intakes were similar (P<0.05) across the dietary treatments, 1, 2, 3, and 4. Daily weight gain and feed to gain ratio were not affected (P<0.05) by increasing rumen epithelial scrapings except in T5 (10% RES) that recorded (10.01) and (8.51)respectively. Lower feed cost/kg  significantly reduced (P<0.05) the cost/kg gain (N) in diets 2 (N444.4), 3 (N447.7) and 4 (N449.5) compared with the control diet 1(N450). Conclusively, grower rabbits can utilize up to 7.5% rumen epithelial scrapings based diets without any adverse effect on performance.