EFFECT OF ENSILED AND SUNDRIED RUMEN DIGESTA FROM CATTLE SHEEP AND GOAT ON THE PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF WEANER RABBIT
EFFECT OF ENSILED AND SUNDRIED RUMEN DIGESTA FROM CATTLE SHEEP AND GOAT ON THE PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF WEANER RABBIT
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Date
2012-08
Authors
ANOH, KEVIN USMAN
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Abstract
Two feeding trials were conducted using a total of 35 weaner rabbits to evaluate the effects of
ensiled and sundried rumen digesta from cattle sheep and goat on the performance of weaner
rabbits. In experiment 1, the ensiled and sundried rumen digesta were included in the weaner
rabbit diets at 20% dietary level in a completely randomized design. There were seven (7)
treatments group including the control and each replicated 5 times with each rabbits as a
replicate. The rabbits were randomly allotted to the treatment groups and housed individually in
a cage. The experimental diets were designated T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 and T7, formulated to be isocarloric
and iso-nitrogenous. The feeding trial lasted for 8 weeks during which experimental feed
and water were given ad libitum. Parameters monitored were daily feed intake, daily body gain,
daily water intake, feed to gain ratio, feed coat/kg gain, carcass and haemtology such as pack cell
volume (PCV), red blood cells count (RBC), white blood count (WBC), haemoglobin (HB) total
protein (TP) and the differentials. Average daily feed intake and weight gain were significantly
higher (P<0.05) and similar in rabbits fed the control and 20% inclusion of sundried sheep rumen
digesta (SSRD) (69.21g, 59.99g and 18.5 12.8g) respectively. The feed to gain ratio and feed/kg
gain also followed the same trend. The daily water intake was significantly higher (P<0.50) in
SSRD than the others. All the nutrients in the control diets were better utilized (P<0.05) by
rabbits than the rumen digetsa of the cattle, sheep and goat. SSRD was better utilized than that of
cattle and goats. All the carcass parts and internal organs were significantly influenced (P<0.05)
except the lungs, loin, forelimb and length of small intestine. All the haematology indices except
PCV, RBC, TP, monocytes and eosinophils were significantly (P<0.05) affected by treatments.
In experiment 2, SSRD was included in rabbit diets at graded levels of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50% to
make 6 treatments. Thirty (30) weaner rabbits were randomly allotted to the treatments in a
ix
completely randomized design having 5 animals per treatments replicated 5 times. Water and
feed were given ad libitum parameters monitored were the same as in experiment 1. Average
feed intake, weight gain, feed to gain ratio and feed cost/kg gain were similar to the rabbits fed
the control and 30% dietary inclusion of SSRD but were significantly higher than others. Water
intake was consume more (P<0.05) by rabbits on 50% SSRD. All the carcass part and internal
organs were significantly affected (P<0.05) except slaughtered weight, lungs, hearts, kidney,
thigh, forelimb, stomach and small intestine. All the haematological indices were significantly
(P<0.05) influenced. The result indicated that SSRD can be included optimally in rabbit diets at
30% without any adverse effects.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POST-GRADUATE SCHOOL, AHMADU BELLO
UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER
OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN ANIMAL SCIENCE.
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
Keywords
EFFECT,, ENSILED,, SUNDRIED RUMEN DIGESTA,, CATTLE SHEEP,, GOAT,, PERFORMANCE,, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS,, WEANER RABBIT.