Effects of Concentrates and Forages on Rabbit (Oryctolagus Cunicuius) Body Mass Gain And

EFFECTS OF CONCENTRATES AND FORAGES ON RABBIT (ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICUIUS) BODY MASS GAIN AND CARCASS YIELD

F. E. Udoh[1] and E. N. A. Udoh[2]

ABSTRACT

Rabbit (Oryctolagus cunicuius) meat is regarded as one of the easy-to-raise sources of animal protein in Nigeria. The right proportion of forages and concentrates that gives maximum mass and carcass production in rabbits is not known by farmers. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to determine the effects of different combinations of concentrates and forages on live body mass gain and carcass yield performance. Using a completely randomised design, 12 weaned, 2-month-old, ‘New Zealand White’ rabbits weighing an average of 0.6 kg each, were subjected to a feeding trial of forages or mixtures of forages and concentrate for 10 weeks. Results showed no significant differences in live body mass. Rabbits fed 100% forages (a mixture of equal proportions of grasses and legumes) had a mean live mass of 1.76 kg; rabbits fed 25% concentrate and 75% forages weighed 1.98 kg. Rabbits fed on 50% concentrate and 50% forages weighed 2.22 kg. The carcass yield significantly (P < 0.05) increased with increasing quantity of concentrates. The carcass yields obtained were 0.062 kg, 0.75 kg, and 0.86 kg for supplementing concentrates at 0%, 25% and 50%, respectively. It is concluded that a mixture of forages and concentrate feed could be useful to rabbits; it is recommended that small-scale rabbit farmers who use only forages as rabbit feed should feed a mixture of grasses and legumes to the rabbits. Where farmers can afford grower’s mash, this could be fed to rabbits as supplements to enhance rabbit productivity. Further research using a wider range of forage and rabbit concentrate would be useful.

[1] Fidela E. Udoh is with the Department of Vocational Education (Agriculture), University of Uyo, Nigeria. Email:

[2] Enoidem A. Udoh is with the Department of Fine and Industrial Arts, University of Uyo, Nigeria