Effects Of Dietary Browse Plant Inclusion On Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Organ Development And Economic Viability Of Rabbit

Abstract

This study evaluated the nutritive value and economic potential of selected browse plant leaves as alternative feed resources for weaner rabbits. Forty weaner rabbits of about  800–1000 g were fed to five different feed. Treatment consisted of 20% inclusion levels of Blighia sapida (T1), Ficus thonningii (T2), Gmelina arborea (T3), and Gliricidia sepium (T4), while a browse-free diet served as the control (T5). The feeding trial lasted for 12 weeks, after which carcass characteristics, organ weights, and feed cost implications were assessed. Proximate analysis revealed higher crude fibre contents in Blighia sapida (23.72%), Gmelina arborea (22.13%), and Ficus thonningii (20.27%) compared with Gliricidia sepium (16.67%). Ether extract values of the browse-based diets were generally comparable to those of the control diet. Carcass evaluation showed that head weight of rabbits fed Blighia sapida was comparable to those fed Gliricidia sepium and the control diet, while rib weight was similar to rabbits fed Gmelina arborea and Gliricidia sepium. Rabbits fed the Blighia sapida-based diet recorded significantly (P < 0.05) differences. Economic analysis indicated that the cost per kilogram of feed was lower for all browse-based diets compared with the control diet. The results demonstrate that Blighia sapida, Ficus thonningii, Gmelina arborea, and Gliricidia sepium leaves can be effectively utilized as alternative feed ingredients in weaner rabbit diets, with the added advantage of reducing feed costs without adverse effects on carcass performance. Their inclusion in rabbit feeding systems may therefore contribute to more sustainable and cost-effective rabbit production.