EFFECT OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF GROUNDNUT HAULM AND COWPEA HAULM ON PERFORMANCE AND NUTREINTS DIGESTIBILTY OF GROWER RABBITS

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of groundnut haulms (GH) and cowpea haulms (CH) in the diets of grower rabbits. Five diets were supplemented with GH and CH at 0, 20, 30, 20 and 30% levels designated as T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. A total of fifteen (15) mixed breeds (Mongrel) grower rabbits were fed diets in a completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement. The experiment lasted 7 weeks. The diets and fecal sample were analyzed for proximate compositions. The result of growth performance indicated that there were significant differences (P<0.05) in the final body weight (2233.34 -2535.34g), daily weight gain (28.84 35.12g) and feed conversion ratio (3.50 4.49). The result of nutrient digestibility showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) in the digestibilities of crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract and ash. The feed conversion ratio was found to be better for rabbits fed diets with 30% cowpea haulms (3.50). Based on this study cowpea haulm can be supplemented in the grower rabbits diets up to 30% without any depression of growth and nutrients digestibilities of grower rabbits.