Effect of Yam-Peel Meal Diets on Performance and Nutreints Digestibility of Grower Rabbits

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of Yam-peel meal diets on performance and nutrients digestibility of grower rabbits. Five diets were formulated containing yam-peels meal (YPM) at dietary levels of 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% designated as T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. Diets were offered to thirty 30 grower rabbits (Mongrels) in a completely randomized design and each treatment was replicated 3times consisting of 2 rabbits per replicate. The experiment lasted 7 weeks. Diets and feacal samples were also subjected to proximate analysis to determine the crude nutrients compositions. The results on the performance of rabbits showed there were significant differences (p< 0.05) in the final body weight (1990.30 -2556.70g), daily weight gain (24.36 -35.65g) and daily feed intake (128.00 -132.43g). The results of nutrients digestibilities showed there were significant differences (p< 0.05) in the digestibilties of dry matter (66.00 – 85.00 %), crude protein (61.00 – 67.00 %), crude fibre (55.70 – 66.70 %) and nitrogen free extract (65.70 – 75.70 %). Rabbits fed 10% YPM diet had the highest weight gain (35.65g /day/ rabbit), with better feed conversion ratio (3.74) and feed cost per kilogram gain (N196.73) compared to others. Crude protein and crude fibre diestibilities were better at 10% YPM dietary level compared to others. Based on this study, it was concluded that yam peel meal can be included in the diet of grower rabbits up to 10% without any adverse effect on growth performance and nutrient digestibility by grower rabbits.