DETERMINATION OF OPTIMUM CONCENTRATE AND FORAGE COMBINATION FOR SMALL HOLDER FEEDING OF RABBITS

Abstract

A total of sixty weaner rabbits were used to evaluate the optimum
concentrate: forage ratio suitable for raising rabbits rander srnail holder
operations. Three furage le~urnes;m ucuna, Iablab and groundnut haulms
('ha~awa')w ere used in cornbirration with 75, 50 and 25% concentrate meal.
Tlae controi consisted csf 100% (1 50gJ concentrate meal and Digitaria grass.
The concentrate .meal was tarmulated to contain 23% crude protein and
2653 kcai ME/kg. Lablab and mucuna were cut at flowering stage while
groundnut haullms were collected at harvest. The forages were dried and
chopped before feeding.
Average daily feed intake, fved:gaEn ratio and feed cost per kilogram gain
were significantly ( P ~ 0 . 0 5i)n fluenced by dietary Ireatments imposed.
lrres~~ectivofe forage fed, Feed cc~spt er kg gain decreased significantly with
decrease in the level s f concepalrate fed. The reverse was the ease for feed:gain
ratio. Feed utilisation appeared better at lower levels s f cot~centrateo ffered.
Average daily gain was ntrt statistically affected by the treatments. Any of
these concentrate:forage combinations could be used for feeding rabbits
without detrimental effect on growth performance. Cost of concentrate feed
per kilogram gain decreased with decrease in level of concentrate with higher
saving on feed observed for treatments fed the lower concentrate levels.
Rabbits fed mucuna and groundnut haulms had higher savings on feed than
lablab groups. However, mueuna and groundnut haulms were more promising
forages while the 25% concentrate to forage combinations were more cost
effective.