APPARENT DIGESTIBILITY AND NITROGEN UTILIZATION OF GROWING RABBITS FED CASSAVA PEEL MEAL ENRICHED WITH MINERAL SALT WITH OR WITHOUT LYSINE

Abstract

Utilization of cassava peel meal (CPM) by livestock specie have some limitations due to its high cellulose content, cyanide and low protein content. However, its potential as animal feed can be improve by subjecting to different processing methods and additive inclusion. This study was carried out to investigate the Digestibility and Nutrient Utilization of CPM fed to growing rabbits, enriched with mineral salts, with or without lysine. A total of sixteen (16) rabbits were used for the experiment. The rabbits were randomized into four experimental units, comprising four replicates per treatment, with one rabbit per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The feeding trial lasted for fifty six (56) days. Four experimental diets were compounded to contain table salt with lysine, table salt withoutlysine, trona with lysine and trona without lysine for T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. Apparent Nutrient Digestibility and Nitrogen Utilization were determined. Data collected was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), using SPSS version 20 and differences between means was separated using LSD. Significant (P<0.05) variations was observed in the apparent nutrient digestibility of the rabbit fed CPM based diets, enriched with trona and lysine (T3), with a significant higher value (%) of 67.22, 62.44, 63.42, 65.56 and 78.03, for the digestibility dry matter, crude protein, crude fibre, nitrogen free extract and total digestible nutrient respectively. Nitrogen utilization recorded higher (p<0.05) and consistent improved values for nitrogen intake, retain nitrogen and percentage nitrogen retained in the trona with lysine (T3) supplemented diet. It was concluded that cassava peel meal (CPM) enriched with trona and lysine could be used as replacement for maize in rabbit diet.