CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF WEANER RABBITS FED GRADED LEVELS OF UREAMOLASSES TREATED MAIZE COB AS A REPLACEMENT FOR WHEAT OFFAL
Keywords:
Rabbits, Maize cob, Urea-molasses, CarcassAbstract
A total of forty-five rabbits of 5-6 weeks old were used to investigate the carcass characteristics of weaner rabbits fed graded levels of urea-molasses treated maize cobs (UMTMC) as a replacement for wheat offal in a 56days trials. They were allotted into five dietary treatments of nine rabbits segregated into three replicates of three rabbits each. The diets contained urea-molasses treated maize cob at five (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 %) levels of inclusion. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance in a completely randomized design. Improved (P<0.05) carcass weight (815.67g/rabbit) and dressing percentage (63.50%) were obtained in rabbits fed diets added with 25% UMTMC. Organ weight was significantly affected with 50% and 100% UMTMC inclusion level. It could be concluded that inclusion of 50% UMTMC improved carcass characteristics.