Nutritional evaluation of graded levels of fermented maize milling waste (maize gluten) in rabbit diet

Abstract

A 70-day feeding trial was conducted with thirty-six 7 weeks old weaned rabbits (mixed breed and sexes), with initial average live weight of 0.81kg to evaluate the nutritional effects of replacing maize at 0,25, and 50%with maize or corn gluten in rabbit diets. Maize gluten is fermented maize milling waste sun dried for three days. The diets were offered to the rabbits which were randomly divided into three (3) groups of 12 rabbits each and each group sub-divided into four (4) replicates of 3 rabbits each in a completely randomized experiment. There was a significant effect (P<0.05) of the treatments on the average daily feed intake of the rabbits as the levels of maize gluten increased. The average weight gain and feed conversion ratio were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the dietary treatments, nevertheless, the FCR increased across the treatments. Graded levels of maize gluten had no significant (P>0.05) effect on carcass dressing percentage. The percent pelt decreased significantly (P<0.05) as level of maize gluten increased. Furthermore, liver and meat cooking loss percentage values showed significant differences (P<0.05) due to the graded levels of corn gluten fed. The sensory evaluation studies were not statistically affected (P>0.05).