Nutrients and digestibility of rabbit fed graded levels of morning glory (<i>Ipomea asarifolia</i>) leaf meal

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate graded levels of Morning glory (Ipomea asarifolia) leaf meal on growing rabbits. Four experimental diets were formulated, with inclusion levels of 0, 5, 10 and 15 g/kg of Ipomea asarifolia leaf meal. The diets were designated as Treatment T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. Forty male rabbits used for the experiment were allotted in to four treatments groups (1, 2, 3, and 4) with two rabbits per replicate in a completely randomized design. The feeding trial lasted for 56 days. The following parameters were monitored (Feed intake, live weight gain, nutrient intake and its digestibility). There was no significant difference (P>0.05) between the control and the animals fed 5 and 10 g/kg Ipomea asarifolia in terms of dry matter intake, feed intake, nutrients intake and digestibility and growth decreased significantly (P<0.05) when the levels of Ipeomea asarifolia exceeded 5g/kg. It was concluded that inclusion of Ipomea asarifolia in the diets of growing rabbits should not exceed 5 g/kg.