REPLACEMENT VALUE OF GROUNDNUT HUSK FOR MAIZE IN RABBITS DIETS

Résumé

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the replacement value of groundnut husk for maize in rabbit diets. Groundnut husk was used at 0, 10, 15 and 20% levels to replace maize as diets 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. A total of sixteen rabbits of mixed breed and sex were obtained from Muda Lawan market Bauchi and allotted to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD), and the feeding trail lasted for eight weeks. Daily feed intake (P<0.001) 38.70-46.30g and daily weight gain 4.6-10.50g (P<0.05) were affected significantly by the dietary treatments, however feed conversion ratio (4.01-3.15) was not affected significantly. The feed cost in naira per kilogram gain was relatively higher on maize (control diet) and lower on groundnut husk based diets. It can be concluded that groundnut husk can substitute maize up to 20% level of inclusion in the diets of rabbits without any adverse effect on performance.