PERFORMANCE AND NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY BY WEANED RABBITS FED BIODEGRADED PROSOPIS AFRICANA SEED COAT.

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the performance and nutrient digestibility by rabbits fed diets containing Prosopis africana pod for a period of 84days. A total of 25 weaned rabbits of about 4-5 weeks with similar weights were assigned to 5 treatments consisting of 1 rabbit in a replicate. The design used was completely randomized design (CRD). Control experiment (T1) had no Prosopis (0% Prosopis), whereas, feed served to rabbits contained 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of Prosopis africana pod, representing T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively. Feed and water were given ad libitum. Performance and nutrient digestibility indices were measured. Results revealed that all the performance indices measured were not significantly (P>0.05) affected but body weight. Also, nutrient digestibility parameters were not affected by treatments except for nitrogen free extract that significantly decreased across treatments. The study concluded that, Prosopis africana pod meal could replace maize in rabbits’ diets upto100% without compromising their performances.