NUTRITIONAL POTENTIAL OF KENAF GRAIN-LEAF MIXTURES MEAL AS REPLACEMENT FOR GROUNDNUT CAKE MEAL IN THE DIET OF WEANED RABBITS

Abstract

Groundnut cake meal is a good source of plant protein but it is expensive hence there is need to look for other alternative source of protein which is less expensive in order to reduce feed cost which is the most limiting factor in livestock production. This study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding rabbits with the mixture of kenaf leaf and grain meal (KGLM) as replacement for groundnut cake meal fraction of the diet on performance characteristics, and cost benefits of weaned rabbits. A total of thirty six weaned rabbits of mean weight 566.452.65g were randomly allotted into four dietary treatments replicated three times and each replicate contained ten rabbit per replicate in a completely randomized design. Four diets were formulated to contain KGLM at 0% (KGLM₁) Control, 50% (KGLM₂), 75% (KGLM₃) and 100% (KGLM₄) as replacement for groundnut cake meal fraction in the diet of weaned rabbit. The mean weight gain of rabbits fed diet containing 0% and 50% KGLM was not significantly influenced by the diet. The highest cost/weight gain was recorded in the diet that contained zero% KGLM while the lowest cost/weight gain was reported in KGLM₄