Abstract
A feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of dietary inclusion of Processed African Yam Bean (AYB) at 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% levels respectively, on the growth and reproductive performance of Rabbits. The AYB inclusion was to ascertain the best (%) level that would give better performance in rabbits. Complete randomized design was used to allot twenty (20) grower rabbits of both sexes into four treatments in three replicate with each group having three does and two bucks. Each of the treatment diets formulated at different growth stages was fed to the rabbits. The rabbits were kept in hutches inside the rabbit house and given feed and water ad libitum. Growth and reproductive parameters were measured. The proximate analysis and anti-nutritional factor of processed AYB showed that it contained values of 26.88%, 92.97%, 5.26%, 61.89%, 7.04%, 3.79% and 2.17% for Crude protein, Dry matter, Crude fibre, Nitrogen-free extract, Moisture content, Ash content and Ether extract respectively while the anti-nutritional factor contained 0.11%, 14.02 mg/g, 0.19 mg/g, 0.21 mg/g, 0.14 mg/g, 0.21 mg/g, 0.13 mg/g and 0.01 mg/g of Tannin, Alkaloid, Oxalate, Phytate, Saponin, Flavonoids, Trypsin inhibitor and Lectin. From this study, the rabbit group on 10% AYB inclusion significantly (p 0.05) affected by the diets. The results of this experiment concluded that AYB can be included in the diet of rabbits with 10% inclusion giving a better reproductive performance and growth rate without any negative effect.
Highlights
Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is one of the most productive animals among other domesticated livestock, their feeding habit is in no competition with humans and their optimum performance can only be ensured in a mixed feeding regime involving forage and formulated feeds without compromising their reproductive efficiency [1]
The results of the proximate analysis of the processed AYB, Anti-nutritional factors, linear body measurement and body weight gain of grower’s rabbits fed different inclusion of African Yam Bean diets are shown in Tables 1-4 while that of their reproductive performance are shown in Table 5 and Table 6 respectively
The crude protein content of 26.88% obtained for processed AYB meal is an indication that it can be used in rabbit diets as supplementary source of protein
Summary
Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is one of the most productive animals among other domesticated livestock, their feeding habit is in no competition with humans and their optimum performance can only be ensured in a mixed feeding regime involving forage and formulated feeds without compromising their reproductive efficiency [1]. African Yam Bean (AYB) is one of the underutilized legumes with high protein content which is gradually going into extinction due to low production from crop farmers and low consumption rate by both human beings and animals. Many research documents revealed the efficiency of various processing techniques in reducing the Anti-nutritional factor content in AYB as well as reducing the cooking times of its meals. Good processing assures safety consumption of AYB meals by human and livestock [2]. It is mainly used as food and can be used to feed animals [4]
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