ABSTRACT
Two feeding trials were conducted using a total of 35 weaner rabbits to evaluate the effects of
ensiled and sundried rumen digesta from cattle sheep and goat on the performance of weaner
rabbits. In experiment 1, the ensiled and sundried rumen digesta were included in the weaner
rabbit diets at 20% dietary level in a completely randomized design. There were seven (7)
treatments group including the control and each replicated 5 times with each rabbits as a
replicate. The rabbits were randomly allotted to the treatment groups and housed individually in
a cage. The experimental diets were designated T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 and T7, formulated to be isocarloric
and iso-nitrogenous. The feeding trial lasted for 8 weeks during which experimental feed
and water were given ad libitum. Parameters monitored were daily feed intake, daily body gain,
daily water intake, feed to gain ratio, feed coat/kg gain, carcass and haemtology such as pack cell
volume (PCV), red blood cells count (RBC), white blood count (WBC), haemoglobin (HB) total
protein (TP) and the differentials. Average daily feed intake and weight gain were significantly
higher (P<0.05) and similar in rabbits fed the control and 20% inclusion of sundried sheep rumen
digesta (SSRD) (69.21g, 59.99g and 18.5 12.8g) respectively. The feed to gain ratio and feed/kg
gain also followed the same trend. The daily water intake was significantly higher (P<0.50) in
SSRD than the others. All the nutrients in the control diets were better utilized (P<0.05) by
rabbits than the rumen digetsa of the cattle, sheep and goat. SSRD was better utilized than that of
cattle and goats. All the carcass parts and internal organs were significantly influenced (P<0.05)
except the lungs, loin, forelimb and length of small intestine. All the haematology indices except
PCV, RBC, TP, monocytes and eosinophils were significantly (P<0.05) affected by treatments.
In experiment 2, SSRD was included in rabbit diets at graded levels of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50% to
make 6 treatments. Thirty (30) weaner rabbits were randomly allotted to the treatments in a
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completely randomized design having 5 animals per treatments replicated 5 times. Water and
feed were given ad libitum parameters monitored were the same as in experiment 1. Average
feed intake, weight gain, feed to gain ratio and feed cost/kg gain were similar to the rabbits fed
the control and 30% dietary inclusion of SSRD but were significantly higher than others. Water
intake was consume more (P<0.05) by rabbits on 50% SSRD. All the carcass part and internal
organs were significantly affected (P<0.05) except slaughtered weight, lungs, hearts, kidney,
thigh, forelimb, stomach and small intestine. All the haematological indices were significantly
(P<0.05) influenced. The result indicated that SSRD can be included optimally in rabbit diets at
30% without any adverse effects.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Declaration.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .i
Certification.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .ii
Dedication.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. iii
Acknowledgement.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .iv
Abstract.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. ..vi
Table of Content.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .viii
List of Tables.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. xv
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. 1
1.1Aims and Objectives.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .2
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Literature Review.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..4
2.1 Feeding of Rabbit.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. … 4
2.1.1 Feeding Behavior of the Growing and Adult Rabbit.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. 4
2.2 Energy, Protein and Water Requirements of Rabbit.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. … 5
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2.2.1 Energy Requirements for Growth.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …5
2.2.1.1 Voluntary Feed and Energy Intake.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..6
2.2.2 Protein Requirement.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..7
2.2.2.1 Protein Requirements for Growth.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..8
2.2.3 Water Requirement of Rabbit .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. …9
2.3 Role of Fiber in Rabbit Nutrition.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .10
2.3.1 Fiber Digestion and Degradation by Rabbi … .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .11
2.4 Processes of Ensiling Feed Materials.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .12
Phase1: Aerobic phase.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..12
Phase 2: Fermentation phase… .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13
Phase 3: Feed out phase.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14
2.4.1 Types of Silage.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 14
Lactic silage.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. . 14
Acetate silage.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15
Clostridia silages.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15
Wilted silage.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. 15
Silages with additives.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. 15
2.4.3 Silage Storage.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..16
2.5 Rumen Digesta as Feeding Material.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..17
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2.5.1 The rumen environment.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. 17
2.5.2Microbial Fermentation in the Rumen.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 19
2.5.3 Roles of Bacteria on Fermentation in the Rumen.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. ..19
2.5.4 Roles of Protozoa and Fungi on Fermentation in the Rumen.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20
2.5.5 Microbial Interactions in the Rumen.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 21
2.5.5.1 Bacteria-bacteria interactions.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21
2.5.5.2 Protozoa-bacteria interactions.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..21
2.5.5.3 Interactions of bacteria, fungi and protozoa.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. 22
2.5.6 Degradation of dietary protein in the rumen.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .22
2.5.7 Peptides and amino acids in rumen fluid.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .24
2.6 Utilization of Animal Waste/By-Products by Monogastrics .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .24
2.6.1 Utilization of Rumen Digesta.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .25
2.6.2 Utilization of Poultry Litter.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. … .. .26
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Materials and Methods.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..28
3.1Experimental Site.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. … .. … .. .. .. .. ..28
3.2 Source of Rumen digesta.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. … .. … ..28
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3.3 Laboratory analysis.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. … .. … .. .. .. .28
3.4 Experiment 1.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. … .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .29
3.4.2Experimental diets.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. … .. … .. .. .. 29
3.4.3 Experimental Animals.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. … .. .. .. .. 28
3.4.4 Parameters monitored.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. … .. … .. 32
3.4.5 Digestibility Studies. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. … .. … .. .. .. 33
3.4.6 Carcass characteristics evaluation.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..33
3.4.7 Haematological evaluation.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. … .. .. 33
3.5 Experiment 2.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. … .. … .. .. .. .. .. .. 35
3.5.2 Experimental Diets/ Animals.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. … .. 32
3.5.3 Parameters monitored.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. … .. … .. 32
3.5.4 Statistical Analysis.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. … .. … .. .. . 32
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 Results .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. … .. … .. 35
4.1 Proximate composition of Ensiled and Sundried Rumen Digesta from Cattle, Sheep and
Goats (% DM).. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 35
4.2 Effect of Ensiled and Sundried Rumen digesta from Cattle, Sheep and Goat on the
performance of weaner rabbit. … .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..37
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4.3 Nutrient digestibility evaluation of weaner rabbit fed diets containing 20% each of
Ensiled and Sundried Rumen Digesta from Cattle, Sheep and Goat. ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. …39
4.4 Carcass characteristics of weaner rabbit fed diets containing 20% each of Ensiled and
Sundried Rumen Digesta from Cattle, Sheep and Goat. ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. … .. 41
4.5 Heamatological evaluation of weaner rabbit fed diets containing 20% each of Ensiled
and Sundried Rumen Digesta from Cattle, Sheep and Goat….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ….. … 41
4.6 Effects of Graded Levels of Sundried Rumen Digesta from Cattle, Sheep and Goat on
the performance of weaner rabbit ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ….. .. .. 45
4.7 Nutrient digestibility evaluation of weaner rabbit fed diets containing graded levels of
Sundried Sheep Rumen Digesta … .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..45
4.8 Carcass characteristics of weaner rabbit fed diets containing graded levels of Sundried
Sheep Rumen Digesta.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. … .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. .. 47
4.9 Heamatological evaluation of weaner rabbit fed diets containing graded levels of
Sundried Sheep Rumen Digesta.. .. .….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..47
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Discussion ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 52
5.1 Proximate composition of Ensiled and Sundried Rumen Digesta from Cattle, Sheep and
Goats (% DM).. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 52
5.2 Effect of Ensiled and Sundried Rumen digesta from Cattle, Sheep and Goats on the
performance of weaner rabbit. ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..52
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5.3 Nutrient digestibility evaluation of weaner rabbit fed diets containing 20% each of
Ensiled Sundried Rumen Digesta from Cattle, Sheep and Goat. ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..53
5.4 Carcass characteristics of weaner rabbit fed diets containing 20% each of Ensiled and
Sundried Rumen Digesta from Cattle, Sheep and Goat. ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 53
5.5 Heamatological evaluation of weaner rabbit fed diets containing 20% each of Ensiled
and Sundried Rumen Digesta from Cattle, Sheep and Goat….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ….. … 54
5.6 Effects of Graded Levels of Sundried Rumen Digesta from Cattle, Sheep and Goat on
the performance of weaner rabbit ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ….. .. …54
5.7 Nutrient digestibility evaluation of weaner rabbit fed diets containing graded levels of
Sundried Sheep Rumen Digesta … .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..55
5.8 Carcass characteristics of weaner rabbit fed diets containing graded levels of Sundried
Sheep Rumen Digesta.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. … .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 56
5.9 Heamatological evaluation of weaner rabbit fed diets containing graded levels of
Sundried Sheep Rumen Digesta.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..56
CHAPTER SIX
6.0 Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ….. .. .. .. .. . ..58
6.1 Summary ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 58
6.2 Conclusion ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 58
6.3 Recommendations ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 59
References ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 69
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CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Nigeria is richly endowed with a variety of animal protein sources with livestock population of
13.8 million cattle, 34.4 million Sheep and goats, 22 million exotic poultry, 1.7 million domestic
rabbit (RIM, 1992). Despite this, Nigeria has not been able to provide animal protein in sufficient
quantity to meet the requirements of the citizenry. Many Nigerians consume less than 10 grams
of animal protein daily as against the minimum requirement of 54 g/person/day considered
consistent with a balance diet (FAO, 2007). However, increasing the dietary animal protein
intake at a reasonable cost using micro livestock has been part of the National Agricultural
Policy (Sabayo et al., 2007).
A lot of effort is therefore required in popularizing the raising of rabbits among the rural
populace and other low income groups. Rabbits hold a lot of promise for increasing the supply
and intake of animal protein among these classes of people. This is because they multiply and
grow rapidly producing an average of 6-8 kittens and kindle 3-4 times yearly as a result of their
short gestation period of 28-30 days. Rabbits produces high quality meat and can utilize very
cheap feed materials (Aduku, 1992).
The type of feed provided for the rabbits must be given special attention to ensure it meets the
requirements for energy, protein, vitamins, minerals and other micro nutrients necessary for
optimum growth and development. The key to abundant animal production is the availability of
cheap and balanced feed. Feed cost and quality determines the growth rate and the population of
the animals that can be kept on the farm (Aduku, 1992). There is therefore, the need to intensify
research into alternative feed sources that are affordable and available to cut down cost of
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production. There is presently global concern for the proper disposal of waste hence the
conversion of agro waste to flesh as a means of reducing environmental hazard have been
suggested (Teguia et al., 1993). Studies on the utilization of agro-industrial by products in animal
feed have increased in the last two decades in order to reduce the high price of feed stuffs (Alawa
and Umuna, 1993; Onimisi, 2005; Onimisi and Omage, 2006). Rumen digesta is one of these
wastes that pose a problem to the environment. It is an abattoir by product obtained from cattle
sheep and goat as well as camal (Maigandi et al., 2004). Magaindi and Tukur (2002) reported the
proximate analysis of rumen digesta for carmel, cattle sheep and goat slaughtered at the sokoto
abattoir. In their studies, camel rumen digesta was reported to have 8.39% crude protein (CP),
11.98% ether extract (EE), and 36.74% (CF) while 8.18% CP, 2.68 EE and 33.31% CF were
documented for cattle. Sheep rumen digesta had 9.18% CP, 5.57% EE and 33.31% CF while
8.03 % CP, 5.57% EE and 30.83% CF were values for goat. A range of 9.20-20% Crude protein
has been reported for rumen digesta (Ekwuoma, 1992; Adeniji, 1996; Whyte and Wadak, 2002;
and Odunsi, 2003). Rumen digesta has not been reported to contain any anti nutritional factor
therefore it may not only serve as feed, but recycling it will enhance proper disposal and reduce
environmental problems.
1.1 Objectives of study
This study was designed to evaluate the effects of rumen digesta from cattle sheep and goats
processed by ensiling and sundrying on the performance of rabbits.
The objectives of this study are to
i) determine the proximate composition of ensiled and sundried rumen digesta.
3
ii) evaluate the growth performance of growing rabbits fed ensiled and sundried rumen
digesta from cattle, sheep and goat.
iii) evaluate the effect of graded levels of sundried rumen digesta of sheep on the
performance of weaner rabbits.
iv) determine the hematological parameters of the rabbits fed with the experimental diets
containing ensiled and sundried rumen digesta.
v) evaluate the economic advantage of using rumen digesta in rabbit diets.
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