EFFECT OF FORAGE TYPE, SEX AND PALM OIL SUPPLEMENTATION ON PERFORMANCE AND HORMONAL PROFILE OF WEANER RABBITS IN SUB-HUMID REGION

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dc.contributor.authorOKUNLOLA, OKUNLOLA,
dc.date.accessioned2015-01-27T09:57:16Z
dc.date.available2015-01-27T09:57:16Z
dc.date.issued2014-02
dc.descriptionA THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA. IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTERS DEGREE IN ANIMAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA. FEBRUARY, 2014en_US
dc.description.abstractTwo studies were conducted using a total of 96 mixed breed rabbits aged between 5-7 weeks with an average weight of 789.71g to determine the effect of forage type, forage level, palm oil supplementation and sex on performance, carcass characteristics, serum progesterone and testosterone profile of weaner rabbits. The rabbits were randomly allotted to the treatment groups in a Completely Randomized Design in a factorial arrangement. The factors considered were forage type (groundnut, lablab), palm oil supplementation (without, with), forage level (20, 40) and sex (male, female). Water and feed were supplied ad libitum. Each study lasted for 98 days. The results showed that rabbits fed 40% forage had a significantly higher feed intake than rabbits fed 20% forage. Total weight gain of rabbits fed 20% forage were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those fed 40% forage. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in the daily feed cost, total feed cost, feed cost per kg gain by rabbits fed 20% and 40% forage levels. Palm oil supplementation, forage type and sex had no significant effect (P>0.05) on the performance of the rabbits. There were interactions between forage level and palm oil supplementation, forage level and forage type, sex and forage level and palm oil supplementation and sex on the performance of rabbits. Carcass analysis showed that rabbits fed 40% forage had a significantly higher (P<0.05) carcass weight than those fed 20% forage. Similarly rabbits fed palm oil had significantly higher (P<0.05) weight than those without palm oil. The hormone profile of rabbits indicated an increase in the serum concentrations of progesterone and testosterone level of rabbits with age. Positive interaction effects were observed between forage level and palm oil, forage level and age, forage level and forage type, forage type and palm oil, forage type and age and palm oil and age on progesterone and testosterone profiles of rabbits. Palm oil supplementation did not have effect on performance. Rabbit fed groundnut haulms had higher progesterone than those fed lablab and this is an indication that rabbits fed groundnut haulms could have attain puberty earlier than those fed lablab. It can be concluded from this study that feeding 20% forage is recommended as it gave better performance than 40% inclusion.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/5903
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.subjectFORAGE TYPE,en_US
dc.subjectSEX,en_US
dc.subjectPALM OIL,en_US
dc.subjectSUPPLEMENTATION,en_US
dc.subjectHORMONAL,en_US
dc.subjectWEANER RABBITS,en_US
dc.subjectSUB-HUMID REGIONen_US
dc.titleEFFECT OF FORAGE TYPE, SEX AND PALM OIL SUPPLEMENTATION ON PERFORMANCE AND HORMONAL PROFILE OF WEANER RABBITS IN SUB-HUMID REGIONen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
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