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Effect of Mixed Feeding of Forages and Graded Dietary Energy Levels On The Performance of Weaner Rabbits
Abstract
Thirty six New Zealand White X Dutch rabbits of crosses were used for the experiment to assess the effect of mixed feeding of forages and graded dietary metabolisable energy levels at 1500kcal/kg, and 2000kcal/kg and 2500kcal/kg, respectively. Forages used were Calapogonium mucunoides, Panicum maximum and Tridax procumbens in a 3 x 3 factorial in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with nine treatments, replicated into two with two animals per replicate. The experiment lasted two months. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference in feed intake among the treatments except for Tridax procumbens with energy level of 2500kcal/kg. Feed conversion ratio decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increased in energy level of concentrate. The feed conversion ratio was significantly (P<0.05) higher in rabbits fed Tridax procumbens and concentrate with 1500kcal/kg energy level and lowest in treatment of Calapogonium mucunoides and concentrate with 2500kcal/kg energy. The weight gain of rabbits fed with Calapogonium mucunoides and concentrate of 2500kcal/kg respectively, was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the others. For blood parameters, packed cell volume and serum potassium showed slight variation whereas the serum quality of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and haemoglobin varied significantly.
Key words: Rabbits, Calapogonium ¸ Panicum , Tridax , Energy, Concentrate .
