Performance and nutrient digestibility of growing rabbits fed dietary processed kola nut (Cola nitida) pod-husk meal

Abstract

This study examines the out-turn of dietary processed cocoa (Theobroma cacao) pod-husk meal (PCPM) on growing rabbits' performance and nutrient digestibility. A total of 120, five-weeks old rabbits were randomly distributed into four dietary treatments (30 rabbits/treatment) containing PCPM at 0, 10, 20 and 30%, and designated as diets 1, 2, 3, 4, respectively. The results revealed final live weight, total weight gain and average daily weight gain of rabbits fed 0, 10 and 20% PCPM diet were statistically similar (p< 0.05), but higher (p<0.05)than those fed 30% PFCPM. Similarly, rabbits fed diet 3 (20% PCPM) recorded best feed conversion ratio value (2.97), although not statistically (P p>0.05) different from those fed diet 1 (3.03) and 2 (2.88) but significantly (p< 0.05) higher when compared to those on a diet 4 (3.62). In all, the dry matter and crude protein's apparent digestibility of rabbits on diets 1, 2 and 3 were similar (p>0.05) but significantly (p<0.05) higher than those on diet4. The slaughter weight (1599.90g) and dressing weight (940.20g) of rabbit fed diet 4 were significantly (p< 0.05) lower than other experimental treatments. However, the dietary inclusion of PCPM did not significantly influence (p>0.05) the relative organ (i.e. lung, liver, kidney, heart and spleen) weights across the experimental treatments. In conclusion, this study has shown that PCPM can be used up to 20% without affecting the performance and protein and dry matter apparent digestibility of the rabbit during production.