GROWTH PERFORMANCE, NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF RABBITS FED VARYING LEVELS OF GROUNDNUT HAULM WITH CONCENTRATE

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics of rabbits fed varying levels of groundnut haulm (GH) with concentrate. All together, 54 weaner rabbits of 6-7 weeks of an average initial weight of 735.81g were included in completely randomized design and fed six (6) dietary treatments of: 100% concentrate and 0% groundnut haulms (T1, control), 80% concentrate and 20% GH (T2), 60%concentrate and 40% GH (T3), 40%  concentrate and 60% GH (T4), 20% concentrate and 80%GH (T5) and 0% concentrate and  100% GH (T6). In most of the treatments, the total feedintake, the body weight and carcass  weight showed no significant (p>0.05). There were significant difference (p<0.05) in visceral organs and sensory characteristics when rabbits are fed groundnut haulms included diets than concentrate diets.