PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMICS OF PRODUCTION OF WEANER RABBITS  FED WITH SUN-DRIED SHEEP RUMEN CONTENTS AS A REPLACEMENT FOR  WHEAT OFFAL

I. Saidu; S. T. Mbap; M. M. Abubakar; K. M. Bello; N. Yakubu; S. M. Muazu; M.  Sa’id

doi:10.51791/njap.vi.6741

Authors

I. Saidu Bauchi State College of Agriculture, Bauchi
S. T. Mbap Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi
M. M. Abubakar Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi
K. M. Bello Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi
N. Yakubu Bauchi State College of Agriculture, Bauchi
S. M. Muazu Department of Animal Production
M. Sa’id Bauchi State College of Agriculture, Bauchi

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.6741

Keywords:

Weaner rabbits, wheat offal, rumen content, performance and economics

Abstract

The study was therefore, conducted to evaluate the performance and economics of production of weaner rabbits fed with varying levels of sun-dried sheep rumen contents (SDSRC) as replacement for wheat offal (WO). Fifty mongrel rabbits were allotted to five dietary treatments replicated five times in a completely randomized design with SDSRC replacing WO at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% designated as diet 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively. Growth performance, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were not influenced (P>0.05) by treatment. Feed cost (N/kg) and total feed cost (N) reduced as the percentage SDSRC increased. Lower4 values were recorded for diet 5(100% SDSRC) of N68.80 and N300.90 respectively. It is therefore, concluded that inclusion of SDSRC in the diet of weaner rabbits reduce cost of production without compromising their production attributes, it is therefore recommended for farmers to incorporate it, to reduce cost of production and environmental pollution
in Nigeria.