CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS, INTERNAL ORGAN WEIGHTS AND ABDOMINAL FAT OF GROWING RABBITS FED DIETS SUPPLEMENTED WITH MASHED LIME FRUIT JUICE AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO ANTIBIOTICS

Abstract

The study evaluated carcass characteristics, internal organ weights and abdominal fat of growing rabbits fed diets supplemented with mashed lime fruit juice (MLFJ) as an alternative to antibiotics. The experiment was conducted with thirty apparently healthy mixed breed growing male rabbits. The rabbits were assigned to 6 dietary treatments (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6) in a completely randomised design. A basal diet was formulated to contain ME 2515.93 kcal/kg and CP 16.00% to which were added 0, 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 ml of MLFJ per 100kg representing treatments T1 – T5 respectively while 55 g/100kg Oxytetracycline (Oxyt) was added to the basal diet as recommended by the manufacturer to form T6. The treatments T1 and T6 served as negative and positive controls respectively. Five growing rabbits were assigned to each dietary treatment and each rabbit served as a replicate. The rabbits were housed individually in galvanized wire cages in a well-ventilated building. The rabbits were treated for parasites before the commencement of the trial. Data generated in the study were subjected to analysis of variance using General Linear Model procedure of the SAS software package. Significant (P<0.05) differences between treatment means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test of the same SAS. Result showed that rabbits fed Oxyt diet had the highest slaughter weights which were similar to those fed 500 and 1000 ml of MLFJ. Dressed weight was significantly (P<0.05) lower at 1500 ml but was similar to 1000, 2000 ml and Oxyt while others were similar. Dressing percentage of rabbits fed 0 and 500 ml were significantly (P<0.05) higher while the rest were similar. Abdominal fat was significantly higher at 0 ml and Oxyt but reduced in all the MLFJ treated groups. It was concluded that rabbits could tolerate dietary MLFJ up to 1500 ml/100kg without adversely affecting carcass yield and abdominal fat was significantly reduced in all the MLFJ treated groups. Therefore, MLFJ could be used at 1000ml/100kg in rabbit diet to trim fat for the production of leaner meat.