PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF GROWER RABBITS FED GRADED LEVELS OF CASSAVA LEAF (Manihot esculenta) MEAL

Abstract

The study was to determine the effect of feeding graded levels of cassava leaf (Manihot esculenta) meal in place of full fat soya bean meal on the performance and carcass characteristics of grower rabbits. Fresh cassava leaves were shade dried to a constant weight and milled. Sample of the cassava leaf meal were subjected to proximate analysis to determine the nutrient composition and the antinutrients content. Eighteen grower rabbits were weighed and randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments (T1, T2 and T3) containing 0, 10 and 20% cassava leaf meal respectively in a 3×6 completely randomized design. Diet T1 served as the control diet with 0% CLM. Diets T2 and T3 contained 10 and 20% CLM. Feed and water were provided ad-libitum for 56 days. The result of the performance revealed no significant difference (P>0.05) in the total weight gain (731.33-743.33g); average daily weight gain (13.06-13.27g); total feed intake (2675.00-2912.00g); average daily feedintake (47.77-52.00g) and the  feed conversion ratio (3.75-3.92). There were no significant differencefor the cut parts, visceral  organs, and small and large intestine length. No adverse effect was observed on the rabbit as a result of the anti-nutrient in the test diets. The result showed high yield of live weight, carcass weight and skin with 10% cassava leaf meal. This study suggests that replacement ofsoybean meal with up to  20% cassava leaf meal will increase the carcass weight, live weight, skin weight and visceral organs development at a lower cause.