PERFORMANCE INDICES OF RABBITS FED DIFFERENT PROTEIN SOURCES
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.7582Mots-clés :
Sesame seed cake, soybean cake, groundnut cake, rowth indicesRésumé
The aim of this study was to investigate performance indices of rabbits fed different protein sources. Fifteen, grower mixed breed rabbits were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. The experimental diets contained soyabean meal, groundnut cake and sesame seed meal, respectively as protein sources. The study lasted for eight weeks. Parameters recorded were; initial weight, final weight, feed served and feed refusal, while weight changes, average weight change/week, total feed intake, average feed intake/week and feed conversion ratio were calculated. Proximate analysis was carried out using standard procedures. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α0.05. Dietary
treatments had significant effect (P<0.05) on; final weight, weight change, average weight change/week and total feed intake. Rabbits fed diet containing soybean cake had the highest values for final weight, average weight change/week and total feed intake when compared to values obtained for rabbits fed groundnut cake and sesame seed-based diets, respectively. Better feed conversion ratio was observed for rabbits on soybean meal-based diet than those on groundnut cake and sesame seed meal. The proximate analysis is presented in Table 3, parameters analysed were not significantly different (P>0.05).
In conclusion, sesame seed cake can be effectively used as source of protein in rabbit’s diet when compared with both soybean and groundnut cakes.