Effect of concentrate supplementation on growth and reproductive performance of rabbit under rural condition

Abstract

Crossbred New Zealand White meat type 8 male and 16 female rabbits aged 3.5 to 4.5 months weighing 9.5 to 13.0 kg were used in a 128 day trial to study the effects of concentrate supplementation on growth and reproductive performance of rabbit under rural condition. Rabbits were divided according to live weight into two treatment groups, i.e. T1 (conventional diet) and T2 (conventional diet + concentrate 75 g/d per rabbit) with four replications per treatment in a Complete Randomized Design (CRD). All animals had free access to locally available green grasses. Results showed that, average daily live weight gain was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in T2 (13.02 ± 0.43 g/d) than T1 (5.30 ± 0.43 g/d) group. Litter weight at birth was better (p < 0.05) in T2 (180.38 ± 16.37g) than T1 (137.19 ± 16.37g) group. Litter size at weaning differed (p < 0.05) and the mean values were 1.37 ± 0.30 for T1 and 2.37 ± 0.27 for T2 group. Kit weight at weaning was superior (p < 0.01) in T2 (408.12 ± 3.85g) than T1 (310.62  ± 3.56g) group. Kit mortality up to weaning was higher (p < 0.01) in T1 (45.0 ± 10.07 %) than T2 (26.92 ± 10.7 %) group. These results indicate that, supplementation of concentrate in addition to conventional feeding may improve growth and reproductive performance of rabbit under rural condition. Key words: Crossbred, New Zealand White rabbit, reproductive performance, growth, concentrate DOI = 10.3329/bjvm.v4i2.1296 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2006). 4 (2): 129-132