No abstract

PurposeIn the livestock industry in Nigeria, maize is a major source of energy and it is expensive because of competition between man and animal. Dry plantain peel of minimal cost was used to replace the maize fraction of the diet of rabbit in order to reduce cost. The purpose of this paper is to examine the performance characteristics of rabbit fed plantain peel.Design/methodology/approachThe feeding trial had five treatments, T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 in which the maize fraction in the diet was replaced at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 per cent, respectively. Completely randomized designs were used and each treatment was replicated thrice with three rabbits per replicate. The parameters taken were feed intake and weight gain on a daily and weekly basis. Feed conversion ratio, total feed cost and cost per weight gain were calculated.FindingsThe results show that there was no significant difference in the weight gain between the control diet (T1) and T3 (p < 0.05). The feed conversion ratio was relatively similar in T1 and T4. The cost per weight gain reduced from N53.57 in the control diet to N33.39 in T3 (75 per cent replacement).Originality/valueIn the livestock industry, maize is expensive because it serves as food for both man and animal. The results indicate that the feed cost of rabbit could be reduced by replacing the maize fraction of the diet with 75 per cent dry plantain peel.

Thirty six New Zealand fryer rabbit (bucks) averaging 874g in body weight were fed on three diets blended with 0, 7, 14% kolaunt pod meal (KPM) and10, 20, and 30% Brewers spent grains (BSG). Other dietary components included maize, soyabean meal, bone meal, salt and vitamin-mineral mixture. The trail lasted for 98 day. Significantly differences (P < 0.05) were found among the three rations with respect to daily live weight gains, feed intake and water intake. There were significant difference among the rations with respect to percent carcass yield, feet, blood and unemptied alimentary canal. However there were no significant (P > 0.05) differences among the three rations with respect to head, tail, and liver weight expressed as percentage of live weight. There was no significant treatment effect no the wholesale cuts. The chemical composition of the meat of rabbits fed 14% KPM + 3-% BSG diet was significantly lower in energy value, % moisture and % fat. The results showed that a diet fortified with 30% BSG and 14% KPM will support good growth as well as improved carcass yield of rabbits.