NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY OF WEANER RABBITS FED DIETS SUPPLEMENTED WITH DIETARY MULTI-ENZYME (FULLZYME® )

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the nutrient digestibility of growing rabbits fed diets containing Fullzyme®, a dietary multienzyme. A total number of twelve (12) weaner rabbits of mixed breeds and sexes were randomly allotted into four (4) dietary treatments having three (3) replicates each in a completely randomized design. Four experimental diets were formulated with Fullzyme® supplementation at 0.00, 0.15, 0.25 and 0.35%, respectively. A seven-day faeces collection from three rabbits per treatment (one per replicate) was carried out to determine the nutrient digestibility of the proximate components. Before the commencement of the trial, rabbits were weighed, confined individually in metabolism cages and weighed quantity of feed was offered to each rabbit daily. Daily feed consumption was recorded as the difference between the quantity offered and the quantity left after 24 hours. The Faeces were oven-dried to determine moisture content. At the end of the collection period, all faecal samples from each rabbit were bulked and preserved for proximate analysis. Results revealed that there were no significant differences(P>0.05) in all parameters measured except for ash retention (P<0.05). Fullzyme® supplemented at 0.25% gave the highest values for dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, ash and nitrogen free extract measured which indicated that there was adequate digestion and absorption of nutrients.