NUTRITIVE POTENTIALS OF INDIGENOUS FORBS FOR RABBITS IN PORT HARCOURT

Abstract

This research examined the nutritive value of indigenous forbs as sole feed for rabbits in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Thirty-five farms in two Local Government Area were purposively selected for the study. Samples of the forages were obtained for laboratory analyses. Data collected were analyzed using One-way ANOVA, descriptive statistics and Duncan Multiple Range Test in SPSS. Corchorus olitorius, Telfairia occidentalis, Ipomea batatas, Amaranthus spps and Tridax procumbens were identified as rabbit feed by the farmers. DM, CP, EE, CF, ash and NFE values ranged from 89–91.06%, 14.33–21.53%, 3.50–3.87%, 15.67–22.03%, 8.35– 11.36% and 38.59–42.24%, respectively. NDF, ADF, ADL, hemicellulose and cellulose in percent DM ranged from 44.96–59.16, 28.79–47.61, 9.11–13.37, 11.55–16.71 and 19.21–34.24, respectively. Methionine, lysine and tryptophan contents (mg/100g protein), ranged from 0.178– 0.389, 0.589–0.876 and 0.217–0.328, respectively. Also, trypsin inhibitors (mg/g) ranged from 1.76–4.89, while tannins, phytates, oxalates, saponins and alkaloid values in percent ranged from 0.0032–0.006, 0.436–0.689, 0.268–0.587, 0.354–0.561 and 0.546–0.659, respectively. There were significant differences (p