Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Rabbit Fed Graded Levels of Cassia tora Seed Meal
H. M. Sani
Department of Animal Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
K. M. Aljameel *
Department of Animal Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
N. Muhammad
Department of Animal Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
B. M. Maina
Department of Animal Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
A. Abdulkarim
Department of Animal Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of varying levels of Cassia tora on the performance of rabbits.
Study Design: Mention the design of the study here.
Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, the experiment last for three months between the months of March to June.
Methodology: The experiment was set in a completely randomized design (CRD) with level of Cassia tora as treatments. The animals were fed diets containing 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10% inclusion levels of C. tora in a completely randomised design replicated six times. Data were collected for 12 consecutive weeks on feed intake and live weight gain.
Results: Growth performance of the rabbits were not significant across the treatments, except for the final body weight and average daily gain being higher in treatment 4 compare to other treatments. Carcass evaluation shows significant difference in dressing percentage, weight of kidney and small intestine.
Conclusion: It was concluded that up to 7.5% of C. tora can be incorporated in the diet of rabbits without any deleterious effect on the performance of rabbits.
Keywords: Rabbit, Cassia tora, performance, carcass