EFFECTS OF FERMENTED KARAYA GUM TREE (Sterculia setigera) SEED MEAL ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY OF RABBITS

Abstract

Effects of dietary inclusion of fermented Karaya gum tree (Sterculia setigera) seed meal was studied using weaned rabbits in a twelve weeks experiment. Three experimental diets were compounded in which control diet (1) had 0 % fermented Sterculia setigeraseed meal (FSSM) while diets 2 and 3 had 5 % and 10 % FSSM respectively. Thirty-six crossbred rabbits of average weight of 525 (± 1.0) g were allocated to the three dietary treatments in complete randomized design experiment with twelve animals per treatment. Each treatment had triplicate with four rabbits per replicate. At the end of the twelve weeks feeding trial, one week digestibility trial was conducted. Final body weight, total weight gain and average daily weight gain were significantly (P<0.05) higher in treatment fed diet with 5 % FSSM while daily and total feed intakes were significantly (P<0.05) higher in 10 % FSSM. Feed conversion ratio was also significantly (P<0.05) better (lower) in 5 % FSSM. Apparent nutrient digestibility for all the nutrients were significantly (P<0.05) higher in diets with 5 % FSSM. The results had indicated that FSSM had no negative effects on growth performance and apparent nutrient digestibility of rabbits and can therefore be included in rabbit diets up to 5% level.