EFFECT OF SWEET ORANGE (Citrus sinensis) FRUIT WASTE WITH OR WITHOUT ACIDOMIX®AFG ON PERFORMANCE OF WEANER RABBITS

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Date
2012-10
Authors
ADEMU, Lawrence Anebi
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Abstract
Two studies were carried out to determine the effect of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) fruit waste (SOFW) with or without Acidomix®AFG on performance of weaner rabbits. In the first experiment, a total of thirty weaner rabbits were used to determine the effect of graded levels of SOFW on the performance and carcass characteristics of weaner rabbits. There were five dietary treatments, each having 5 replicates with graded levels of sweet orange fruit waste at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 % designated as T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. The rabbits fed the diet containing 10 % SOFW gave the highest final body weight, weight gain, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio of 1440.0 g, 16.25 g, 62.32 g and 3.83 respectively, similar to the control. Feed cost per kg gains of 241.07 to 262.52 for the SOFW based diets were similar (P>0.05) to the control diet (T1). No significant (P>0.05) difference was observed among the dietary treatment groups for packed cell volume, haemoglobin and white blood cell counts. Total blood protein was highest for rabbits fed diet containing 15% SOFW (T4). The rabbits on 10 % inclusion of SOFW diet (T3) had the highest dressed weight, dressing percentage, racks and ribs of 743.23 g, 53.09 % and 27.80 % respectively; while rabbits fed diet containing 20 % SOFW had the highest loin weights. Dietary effect on the organs (liver, kidney, lung, heart) were significant (P<0.05). A similar trend was observed for all nutrient digestibility parameters where the values increased (P< 0.05) with increased levels of SOFW. It can be concluded that inclusion of SOFW in diet of weaner rabbits up to 10 % is the optimum. The second experiment was conducted with a total of thirty-five weaner rabbits. There were four dietary treatments, each having five replicates consisting of graded levels of SOFW at 0, 10, 15, and 20 % designated as T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively treated with Acidomix®AFG at two levels (0.5 % and 0.7 %) for each dietary treatment. Interaction effect results indicated significant (P<0.05) linear increases within and across the treatments for final body weight, weight gain and feed intake with no apparent trend. Also, feed cost per kg gain for the SOFW based diets was lowest for 20 % SOFW+ 0.5 % Acidomix®AFG diet (399.74) and was similar (P>0.05) with the control (365.36). Carcass parameters such as dressed weight, dressing percentage and racks/ribs weight for 20 % SOFW+ 0.7 % (805.0 g, 50.83 % and 31.43 % respectively) gave the highest weight across the treatments. The interaction effect on haematological indices had significant (P<0.05) effect on packed cell volume, haemoglobin, white blood cell and total protein. All haematological indices fell within normal ranges with no observable trend. Treatment of the experimental diets using Acidomix®AFG showed a decrease in coliform bacteria in the intestine of the experimental rabbits. It can be concluded that the inclusion of SOFW in the diet of weaner rabbits up to 10 % is optimal. However, treatment of SOFW with Acidomix®AFG helped achieve inclusion levels of SOFW up to 20 % in diets of weaner rabbits
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A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN ANIMAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE, FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA OCTOBER, 2012
Keywords
SWEET ORANGE,, Citrus sinensis,, FRUIT WASTE, ACIDOMIX®AFG,, WEANER RABBITS
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