Effect of feeding graded levels of raw bambara groundnut (<i>Vigna subterranea </i>(L) Verdc ) waste on growth performance and haemathological traits of weaner rabbits

Abstract

Twenty-four weaner rabbits with initial liveweight of 0.83kg were used to determine the effect of feeding graded levels of raw bambara groundnut waste (BGW) on the growth performance and haematological parameters of weaner rabbits. The rabbits were randomly divided into four treatment groups of 6 rabbits each, using a completely randomized design (CRD). The groups were fed four diets containing 0, 10, 20 and 30% raw BGW for 8 weeks. Measurements taken were live weight gain, final body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), cost of daily feed intake and cost of feed per kg weight gain.The packed cell volume (PCV),red blood cell(RBC) count, white blood cell(WBC) count, haemoglobin concentration (Hb),mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular haemoglobin(MCH) and mean corpuscular volume(MCV) were also measured .Results showed that there were significant (P<0.05) differences among treatments in feed intake, weight gain, final body weight, cost of daily feed intake and cost of feed per kg weight gain. Rabbits fed 0 and 10% raw BGW diet had significantly higher (P<0.05) feed intake and cost of feed per kg weight gain than those fed 20 and 30% raw BGW diets. Rabbits fed 20 and 30% raw BGW had significantly lower (P<0.05) feed intake and final body weight than those on other diets. The lowest (P<0.05) cost of daily feed intake and cost of feed per kg weight gain was recorded in treatment 4 (30% BGW diet). There were no significant (P>0.05) differences among treatments in FCR, PER, PCV,RBC, WBC, Hb ,MCHC, MCH and MCV. The results of the study indicate that up to 10% raw BGW can be included in the rations of weaner rabbits without any adverse effect on the performance of the rabbits.

Keywords: Bambara nut waste, growth performance, haemathology, weaner rabbits

> Agro-Science Vol. 6 (1) 2007: pp. 82-88