GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS YIELD OF NEW ZEALAND WHITE AND DUTCH RABBITS FED TWO ENERGY SOURCES AS MEANS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR GRADUATE ANIMAL SCIENTISTS

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the response of weaned mongrel breeds of rabbits to two dietary energy sources. Four diets were formulated in which two breeds and two energy sources were considered in a 2x2 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design. Fourty weaned rabbits were allotted in to the four diets in five replicates with two rabbits each. Feed and water were given adlibtum and the feeding trial lasted for six weeks. At the end of the experiment, sixteen rabbits were slaughtered for carcass analysis. The main effects revealed that New Zealand White rabbits had higher (P<0.01) final weight (2.16 kg) than Dutch (1.83 kg). Also, rabbits fed white sorghum diets have significantly (P<0.01) higher total and daily weight gains as well as better feed conversion ratio than those fed diets containing maize. Result of the interactions showed that total and daily feed intake were significantly (P<0.01) higher in diets 2 and 3 while feed conversion ratio was better (P<0.001) in diets 1 and 4. The result further revealed that, breeds and energy had no significant (P<0.001) influence on carcass yield of rabbits. The lowest feed cost per kg gain was obtained in Dutch rabbits fed white sorghum-based diet with a value of N 2,402.28. Based on the result of this study, it was concluded that both New Zealand White and Dutch rabbits performed optimally on the two energy sources without negative effects on growth rate and carcass yield. However, sorghum containing diet was more economical.