Effect of feeding some evergreen tropical browse plant leaves on performance, digestibility and economic analysis of growing rabbits

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted with thirty (30) weaner rabbits to investigate the nutritive potentials of some
evergreen tropical browse plant leaves (Ficcus thoningii, Vitex doniana, Daniela oliveri, Sarcocephalus
latifolia). Mixed breed rabbits were used and randomly assigned to five (5) treatments (T1 - T5). The
rabbits in Treatment 1 were fed concentrate only (control), while those in T2 - T5 were fed as follows;
Treatment 2: Ficcus thoningii + concentrate of 3% weekly body weight, Treatment 3: Vitex doniana +
concentrate of 3% weekly body weight, Treatment 4: Daniela oliveri + concentrate of 3% weekly body
weight, Treatment 5: Sarcocephalus latifolia + concentrate of 3% weekly body weight. The rabbits were
fed and given drinking water ad-libitum for the twelve-week experimental duration during which their
performance, nutrient digestibility, and economic analysis were evaluated. Experimental diets depressed
all the growth parameters measured; average daily feed intake was in the range of 62.67 to 90.17g while
average final weight range was 1440.83-1766.67g. Coefficient of digestibility by rabbits was significantly
depressed. The diet also affected the economics of production such that feeding of dietary treatments
resulted in positive net revenue of N 459.56 to N 628.59 per rabbit. The cost per kg of each treatment feed
(N70.61 to N71.11) was lower in the control diets (N70.61) than the browse plant diet (N71.11). The study
had shown that the control diet was better in all the parameter measured