DIETARY LEVELS OF PINEAPPLE PEELS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE, NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF WEANER RABBITS

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted on weaner rabbit (Oryctolagus cunniculus) to assess the growth, reproductive performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics rabbits fed graded levels of inclusion of dried pineapple peal meal. Thirty-six (36) composite weaned rabbits of mixed sexed and aged between 6 and 8 weeks were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments group with nine rabbits per treatments. Each treatment had three replicates with 3 rabbits in the ratio of 2 females and 1 male per replicate. The pineapple peal was included in the diet at varying inclusion levels of 0,5,10 and 15 % (forming diets T₁, T₂, T₃ and T₄, respectively) T₁ was the control diet. The experiment lasted for fourteen (14) weeks. Data were collected on growth parameter (body weight feed intake and conversion ratio.), at the end of the 7 weeks digestibility trial using a total collection method. Reproductive performance trial was also determined and carcass characteristics 8 weeks, 2 rabbits per replicate were slaughtered eviscerated and dressed to obtain carcass information on the carcass, weighted and expressed as percentage live weight. Result revealed non- significant (P<0.05) differences in the values obtained for final weight gain, feed conversion ratio and mortality. Result of nutrient digestibility revealed a significant different (P<0.05) most of the parameters (CP. CF and Ash). Significant (P<0.05) different were also recorded in the semen characteristics (sperm per ejaculate and % live sperm. Also, carcass characteristics were observed to be significantly (P<0.05) different on head, fore limb and hind limb). Result obtained for the experiments revealed significant differences in most of growth parameters, higher values of total weight gains and feed intake were observed in T₂(5%) 508.33level of inclusion level with T₄(15 %) 485.33 lower values. Results of carcass characteristics revealed significant difference (P<0.05) in back, hind limbs and fore limbs, respectively, with T₂ having higher values of 181.60, 23.76, for organ weight of weaner rabbits the kidney revealed significant effects (P<0.05) with T₂ (5%) having a higher value 6.00 and lower value of 5.20 at T₄(15%) inclusion level. Also, the result of semen characteristics revealed significant difference (P<0.05) on sperm ejaculate and live sperm % with T₃(10%) having the highest value 355.00 and lowest value of 0.275.00 at T₁(5%). It can therefore be recommended that 5% (T₂) of dry peal pineapple meal can be included in the diet of weaner rabbit for optimum growth performance, nutrient rabbit digestibility and carcass characteristics while T₄(15%) inclusion level for reproductive