EFFECT OF FEEDING GRADED LEVELS OF SWEET POTATO (Ipomoea batata) LEAVES ON BODY WEIGHT OF RABBITS

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of graded levels of sweet potato (Ipomoea batata) leaves (SPL) and pelletized concentrate feed (PCF) on growth performance (body weight and body weight gain). Thirty-six weaner rabbits comprising eighteen (18) bucks and doe each were used for the experiment. The rabbits were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments in a Completely Randomized Design. Twelve (6 males and females each) rabbits were assigned to each treatment and replicated three times such that each replicate was allocated 4 (2 males and 2 females) rabbits. Rabbits in treatment 1 were fed solely on concentrate. However, rabbits in treatment 2 were fed 50 percent concentrate and sweet potato leaves while those in treatment 3 were fed 100 percent sweet potato leaves. Data were collected on body weight and body weight gain. Data collected were subjected to oneway analysis of variance of the SPSS statistical package. The results obtained indicated that rabbits fed 100 percent concentrate and sweet potato leaves had significantly (P<0.05) higher body weight and body weight gain compared to those fed combined (50:50) concentrate and sweet potato leaves. Based on the findings of this study, feeding rabbits with 100 percent concentrate and 100 percent sweet potato had better growth performance of the rabbits.