The Growth and Feed Conversion Efficiency of New Zealand White Rabbits Fed on Legume Supplementation
##article.abstract##
Rabbit is a non ruminant animal with high reproductive potential and space requirement hence preferred by rural households for poverty alleviation and improved nutrition. There has not been much attention given to rabbit meat production in the smallholder areas despite its nutritional value for health, and potential for export markets. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of supplementing Rhodes grass hay (Chloris gayana) with Sweet potato vines (Ipomea batatas), Mulberry (Morus alba) and Sesbania (Sesbania sesban) leaves in terms of nutrient content, feed intake, growth rate and feed conversion efficiency. The study was carried out in Uasin Gishu County using a Completely Randomized Design. A number of 9 grower rabbits of equal ages were randomly allocated to 5 treatments. All the experimental rabbits were pre- treated with broad-spectrum anthelmintics and coccidiostats. The animal`s body weight, daily feed intake were monitored and recorded for 11 weeks. Data collected was statistically analyzed using analysis of variance. Differences between means were separated using tukeys test. Treatment diets appeared similar in nutrient content except crude fat which was high of 2.24 in treatment B. Average daily gains and feed intake for treatments A, B, C, D and E were 40, 49, 30, 39 g and 19; 1.68, 1.62, 1.62, 1.62 and 1.4 respectively. Treatment B had significantly higher ADG, while treatment A had a higher Feed intake. In conclusion, rabbits in treatment B had higher final weights compared to all other treatments.
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