RESPONSE OF WEANER RABBITS TO DIETARY LEVELS OF MAIZE MILLING WASTE

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the growth performance, carcass characteristics, nutrient digestibility and economic benefit of weaner rabbits fed dietary levels of maize milling waste (MMW). Four diets were formulated in which Maize milling waste (MMW) replaced maize at 0, 30, 35 and 40% coded as diets A, B, C, and D respectively. Thirty two (32) weaner rabbits were randomly allotted into four diets with eight rabbits per treatment replicated four times. Feed and water were supplied ad-libitum and the experiment lasted for fifty six days. The results showed that most of the growth performance parameters were not affected (P>0.05) except total feed intake and daily feed intake with highest values on diet D (Put the value here). All the carcass characteristics measured were not affected by the dietary treatments. Similarly, most of the nutrient digestibility parameters were not affected except ether extract digestibility with the highest (P<0.05) values observed on MMW based diets and the lowest (68.39%) on the control (diet A). The feed cost per kg body gain was highest on diet A (₦1504.10) with positive cost saving on the MMW diets. It can be concluded that MMW can replace Maize at 40% level in the diet of weaner rabbits without compromising growth performance carcass yield, nutrient digestibility and reduction in feed cost.