Growth performance and organ characteristics of rats fed Gmelina (<i>Gmelina Arborea</i>) fruit pulp

Abstract

The performance of rats fed ripe gmelina fruit pulp (RGFP) in a 28 day trial using 30 male wistar albino rats shared into 5 equal groups, were  evaluated. Five iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric diets supplying 12% crude protein and 3800 kcal (ME)/kg diet were used. Diet 1 (T0 or control) had maize as the main energy source (0% level), while maize in diets 2 (T₂₅), 3 (T₅₀), 4 (T₇₅) and 5 (T₁₀₀) was replaced with RGFP at 25, 50, 75 and 100% levels, respectively. The 5 groups of rats were randomly allotted to the 5 diets on weight equalization basis. Completely Randomized Design (CRD); one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed. Significant (p<0.05) means were separated using least significant difference (LSD). Initial weight, final weight, total weight gain, mean weekly weight gain, total feed intake, mean weekly feed intake, feed conversation ratio (FCR) and liver, kidney, heart, lung and spleen weights ranged from  55.30-54.89g, 223.12-54.25g, 169.93-1.05g, 33.90-0.21g,  366.24-156.23g, 73.25-31.38g and 149.43-2.01, 0.49-0.30g, 0.77-0.70g, 0.38-0.45g, 0.88-0.79g and 0.29-0.21g, respectively. Only T100 recorded mortality (33.33%). T0 had the highest (p<0.05) final weight, weight gain and feed intake while T100 had the least (p<0.05). Weight gain was inversely proportional to RGFP level in diets while FCR was directly proportional to liver weight. RGFP did not affect (p>0.05) organ weights except the liver. T0 liver weight was similar (p>0.05) to T₂₅, implying that replacing maize with RGFP in monogatric diets above 25% could be deleterious to the performance of the animal.

Keywords: Gmelina, fruit pulp, rats, performance