Performance of Rabbit Fed Hausa Potato Tuber (<i>Solenostemon rotundifolium</i>) Meal (HPTM) at Graded Levels as Substitute to Maize

Abstract

Twenty-four (24) crossbred (New Zealand Red X Chinchilla) rabbit aged 4 – 6 weeks made up of mixed sexes with average initial body weight of (1.82kg and 1.83kg) were used to evaluate the effect of different levels of Hausa potato tuber meal (HPTM) inclusion on their feed intake and growth performance. The rabbits were randomly allotted to four groups of six rabbits per group. Each group was replicated three times in a completely randomized design with each replicate having two (2) rabbits. The groups were fed diets containing 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% HPTM respectively and designated treatment I, II, III and IV respectively. The chemical composition of the test ingredient was determined prior to its inclusion in the diets. Data were collected on final body weight, average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio. All data were subjected to one way analysis of variance. There were no significant (P>0.05) difference in the above listed parameters. Rabbits fed diets III and IV is significantly (P<0.05) higher than rabbits fed diets II in average daily feed intake, while rabbits fed diets I were statistically similar to those fed diets III and IV. The results suggest that 30% replacement of maize with Hausa potato tuber meal (HPTM) did not have any deleterious effects on the growth performance of rabbits and that the general trend showed that there was increase in growth of the experimental animal with increase in the level of Hausa potato tubers meal (HPTM). Keywords: Solenostemon rotundifolium meal, growth performance, crossbred rabbit.