Evaluation of concentrate, grass and legume combinations on performance and nutrient digestibility of grower rabbits under tropical conditions

Abstract

Thirty-five (35) grower crossbred rabbits were randomly allocated to seven combinations of concentrate, grass and legume in proportions of 50 g:60 g:40 g in a completely randomized design. The
treatments were: (1) rabbit meal, Rhodes grass and groundnut haulms (RRG), (2) rabbit meal, Rhodes grass and sweet potato vines (RRP), (3) rabbit meal, Rhodes grass and soybean forage (RRS), (4)
Soybean cheese waste meal, Rhodes grass and groundnut haulms (SRG), (5) Soybean cheese waste meal, Rhodes grass and sweet potato vines (SRP), (6) Soybean cheese waste meal, Rhodes grass and
soybean forage (SRS) and (7) rabbit meal and Rhodes grass (RR) constituted the control. The control consisted 100 g rabbit meal and 100 g Rhodes grass, which was the normal feeding regime. Diet had a
significant effect (P<0.05) on feed intake of grower rabbits. Rabbits on RRS had lower feed intake compared with the other groups. There were non-significant (P>0.05) differences in daily weight gain for
all the treatments. Feed cost/kg gain was, however, higher for rabbits fed RRP combination compared with the other treatments. Dry matter digestibility was higher (P<0.05) in SRP, SRS and SRG and lowest
in RRP. Crude protein digestibility was significantly (P<0.05) higher in RR, RRS and SRS than RRP, while nitrogen free extract digestibility was significantly (P<0.05) higher for SRG, SRP than the control
(RR) and RRS. Crude fibre and ether extract digestibility were similar for all the treatment groups. The combination of concentrate, grass and legume shows promise in the reduction in the cost of production of grower rabbits.