Utilization of <i>Prosopis africana</i> pulp for rabbit feeding: 1.Effects on growth and economic performance

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the chemical composition of Prosopis africana pulp (PAP) and the effects of PAP on the performance of growing rabbits. The study also highlighted the economic benefits arising from the substitution of maize with PAP in rabbit diets. Thirty (30) rabbits (Dutch X New Zealand white), 5-6 weeks of age and of mixed sexes were used for the study. The rabbits were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments in groups of six, but caged individually. The PAP replaced maize weight for weight at levels of 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% in diets 1 (control), 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. The formulated diets contained similar crude protein content of 18%. The parameters considered were feed intake, growth rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and the economic performance. The chemical analysis revealed that PAP and maize were similar in nutrient composition and amino acid profile. Highest feed intake (47.36 g/rabbit/day) and total weight gain (1211.67 g/rabbit) were recorded in treatment 3 (20% PAP) which were significantly different (P< 0.05) from treatments 4 (30% PAP) and 5 (40% PAP), but similar (P>
0.05) to treatments I (control) and 2 (10% PAP). The slightly higher daily weight gain (10.3 6 g/rabbit/day), feed conversion ratio (6.83) and protein efficiency ratio (1.14) recorded in treatment 3 (20% PAP) were not  significantly different (P>0.05) from those of the other treatments. Although feed cost per kg and feed cost per kg gain were better in treatments 4 and 5, better feed intake and daily gain were obtained in the other treatments. Therefore, diets containing 20% PAP (i.e. 50% maize replacement) could be fed to growing rabbits without compromising the growth performance of the rabbits.

KEYWORDS: Prosopis africana pulp, rabbit feeding, performance.