Effect of graded levels of teak (<i>Tectona grandis</i>) kernel meal on growth performance and carcass characteristics of rabbit (<i>Oryctolagus cunniculus</i>)

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the effects of graded levels of teak (Tectona grandis) kernel meal on rabbits. Thirty weaned rabbits aged between 4 – 5 weeks old were which lasted for 12 weeks. The rabbits were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments of two replicates consisting of three rabbits each in a completely randomized design. The calyx layer of the kernel was removed via sieving and rubbing in-between the palms, and the middle layer coupled with the innermost layer were crushed and milled using huller mill to obtain teak kernel meal. Experimental diets were compounded in such a way that Diet 1 contained no teak kernel meal (control) while Diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 contained the test ingredient at 5, 10, 15 and 20% levels of inclusion respectively. Teak kernel meal was analysed for moisture, crude fibre(CF), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), ash and nitrogen free extract (NFE).The results for moisture, crude fibre, crude protein, ether extract, ash and nitrogen free extract were 7.36, 54.90, 8.75, 8.50, 5.00 and 16.88% respectively. Anti-nutritional factors were also analysed for oxalate, phytate, cyanide, tannin, flavonoid and alkanoid, and the results were 28.6mg, 3.65, 0.32, 2.35, 3.12 and 0.42% respectively. Rabbits fed Diet 1 had the highest final weight of 1635.88g while those fed Diet 5 exhibited the least (1411.20g). There were significant (P<0.05) differences among daily feed intake of the rabbits. The study suggests that rabbits can tolerate 20% of the test ingredient without any deleterious effect.

Keywords: rabbits, performance, teak kernel meal, proximate analysis, anti-nutrients