PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF RABBITS FED CONCENTRATES SUPPLEMENTED WITH MIXTURE OF BLENDED RIPE BANANA PEELS AND RIPE PAWPAW

Author Name: R. P. Obongekpe

Volume: 01 &  Issue:

Country: Nigeria

DOI NO.: 08.2020-25662434 DOI Link: http://www.doi-ds.org/doilink/01.2021-97878967/UIJIR

Affiliation:

1. Department of Animal Science, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted to evaluate the performance assessment of rabbits fed with concentrates supplemented with mixture of blended ripe banana peels and ripe pawpaw. This study was carried out in the Agriculture Laboratory of the Department of Animal Science, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. A total of twenty four (24) grower rabbits were assigned to four dietary treatments of six (6) rabbits each, replicated four times with two (3) rabbits per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). The experimental diets were formulated and fresh pawpaw leaf included in the diets across at the levels of 0%, 25% 50% and 100% in T1,T2,T3 and T4 respectively.The results of the study showed; Final Weight (FW), Average Daily Feed Intake (ADFI) and Average Daily Weight Gain (ADWG) were significantly different at (P˂0.05). The values obtained were 28.84, 35.67, 68.00 and 85.50 respectively for T1,T2,T3 and T4, the highest value was recorded in T4 with value of 85.50 that contained 1.5% of Ripe Banana mixed with Ripe pawpaw (RBPM). Best performance for Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) was recorded in T4 with 2.80 with Ripe Banana mixed with Ripe pawpaw (RBPM) and the poorest Feed Conversion Ratio was recorded in T3 with 3.31 FPL respectively. Hematological indices were carried out and White blood cell(WBC), Red blood cell(RBC),Hemoglobin (Hb), Mean Corpuscular Volume(MCV),Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) were not significantly different among treatment groups(P˃0.05). It was concluded from the results obtained that Fresh Pawpaw Leaf (FPL) can be included in diets of grower rabbits at level of 25% with improved growth performance and no adverse effect on hematological indices.Implications and recommendations were made from the findings of the study

Key words: Ripe banana Peels, Ripe Pawpaw, Performance characteristics, Rabbits