ABSTRACT
Twenty four (24) cross bred rabbits of both sexes, made up of twelve (12)
males and twelve (12) females were used for the experiment to investigate, the
growth and carcass characteristics of weaner rabbits fed four(4) dietary levels
of Moringa oleifera leaf, meal (MOLM). Treatments 1, 2, 3, and 4 received 0,
10, 20, and 30% MOLM, respectively.
Results obtained showed that rabbits on T3 diet achieved the highest weight gain
(1600.00 ±56.27g) while T2, T4 and T1 recorded weight gains of (1583.33 ±
0.14g, 1441.67 ± 47.29g and 1366.67 ± 77.10g), respectively. Rabbits on T3
diets also recorded a higher daily weight gain (9.54 ± 0.70g) than those on T2,
T4 and T1 (9.03 ± 0.39g, 7.54 ± 0.89g and 6.65 ± 0.85g), respectively. There
was also significant difference (P< 0.05) on the feed cost per kg gain (N) as
Treatment 3 feeds was cheaper (N77.08), than T4, T2 and T1 whose feed costs
were N85.57, N85.66 and N132.85, respectively. Feed intake, feed conversion
ratio, and feed cost per kg feed (N) had no significant difference (P > 0.05)
across the treatments. Results of carcass evaluation showed a significant
difference (P < 0.05) on the; thoraxic width, lion weight, liver weight, lungs
weight and spleen weight.
However, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) on the other parameters
such as, liver weight, dressed weight, carcass length, head weight, fore limb
weight, hind limb weight, heart weight and kidney weight, as was observed
from the study. Evaluation of hematological characteristics of rabbits fed
MOLM showed no significant difference (P>0.05) in packed cell volume (PCV)
haemoglobin (HB g/d), red blood cell count (RBC) and white blood cell count
(WBC). This investigation therefore suggests that, rabbits tolerate Moringa
oliefera leaf meal (MOLM) up to 20% level, for optimal performance. Higher
levels of incorporation resulted in decreased performance and should be
discouraged.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page – – – – – – – – – i
Approval page – – – – – – – – – ii
Certification – – – – – — – – iii
Dedication – – – – – – – – – – iv
Acknowledgement- – – – – – – – – v
Abstract – – – – – – — – – – vi
Table of contents – – – – – – – – – vii
List of tables – – – – – – – – xi
CHAPTER OF ONE
1.0 Introduction – – – – – – – – – 1
1.1 Objectives – – – – – – – – – 4
1.2 Justification of the study – – – – – – – 5
CHAPTER TWO
2.0. Literature Review – – – – – – – – 6
2.1 Origin and biology of the rabbit – – – – – 6
2.2 Importance of rabbits production – – – – – 8
2.3. Constraints in rabbits production – – – – – 10
2.4. Feeds and feeding – – – – – – – 11
2.5. Nutrient requirements of rabbits – — – – – 15
2.5.1. Energy Requirement – – – – – – – 16
2.5.2. Energy requirements for growth- – – – – – 18
2.5.3. Protein Requirement – – – – – – – 18
2.5.4. Protein requirement for growth – – – – – – 19
2.5.5. Fat Requirement – – – – – – – – 21
2.5.6 Minerals Requirement – – – – – – – 22
2.5.7. Vitamins Requirement – – – – – – – 23
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2.5.8. Water Requirement – – – – – – – 24
2.6. Forage utilization by rabbits – – – – – – 26
2.7. Fibre digestion and utilization by rabbits – – – – 28
2.8. The role of fibre in rabbit nutrition – – – – – 30
2.9 Nutrient composition of forages used in rabbit nutrition – – 32
2.10 Characteristics of the tested forage (Moringa oleifera) – – 33
2.11. Soil and water requirement – – – – – – 34
2.12 Cultivation – – – – – – – – – 34
2.13 Chemical composition of Moringa oleifera leaves. – – – 35
2.14 Amino acid composition of Moringa oleifera leaves. – – 35
2.15 Utilization of Moringa oleifera leaves as animal feed nutrient- – 37
2.16 Medicinal uses of Moringa oleifera leaves – – – – 41
2.17 Other uses of Moringa oleifera leaves – – – – – 42
2.18 Plant growth hormones – – – – – – – 43
2. 19. Growth and development of rabbits – – – – – 43
2.20 Factors affecting rabbits growth – – – – – – 45
2.20 i Age and weight – – – — – – – – 45
2.20 ii Muscle development and growth — – – – – 46
2.20 iii Effect of feed nutrients on growth — – – – – 47
2.21 Hematological characteristics — – – – – – 48
2.22 Carcass characteristics/quality of rabbit meat – – – 48
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Materials and Methods – – – – – – – 51
3.1 Location – – – – – – – – – 51
3.2 Experimental materials and duration of study – – – 51
3.3 Experimental Diets – – – – – – – 52
3.4 Proximate composition of experimental diet – – – – 53
3.5 Experimental animals and management – – – – 54
3.6 Data collection – – – – — – – – 54
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3.7 Experimental design – – – – – – – 57
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 Result – – – – – – – – – 58
4.1 Effect of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) on growth
performance of rabbits – – – – – – 5
4.1.1 Final average weight (g) – – – – – – – 59
4.1.2. Average daily feed intake (g) – – – — – – 59
4.1.3. Average daily weight gain (g) – – – – – – 59
4.1.4. Feed conversion ratio (g) – – – – – – – 59
4.1.5. Feed cost per kg gain (N) – – – – – – – 60
4.1.6. Feed cost per kg feed (N) – – – – – – – 60
4.1.7. Mortality – – – – – – – – – 60
4.2. Effect of Moringa olerifera leaf meal (MOLM) on the carcass
evaluation of rabbits – – – – – – – 60
4.2.1 Dressed weight (g) – – – – – – – – 61
4.2.2. Dressed percentage (%) – – – – – – – 62
4.2.3. Carcass length (cm) – – – – – – – 62
4.2.4 Head weight (g) – – – – – – – – 62
4.2.5. Thorax width (cm) – – – – – – – – 62
4.2.6 Loin weight (g) – – – – – – – – 63
4.2.7. Fore limb weight (g) – – – – – – 63
4.2.8. Hind limb weight (g) – – – – – – – 63
4.2.9. Liver weight (g) – – – – – – – – 63
4.2.10 Heart weight (g) – – – – – – – – 63
4.2.11 Kidney weight (g) – – – – – – – – 64
4.2.12 Lungs weight (g) – – – – – – – – 64
4.2.13 Spleen weight (g) – – – – – – – – 64
4.3. Effect of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) on the
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haematogical characteristics of rabbits – – – – – 65
4.3.1. Pack cell volume (PCV) – – – – – – – 65
4.3.2. Haemoglobin (HBg/d) – – – – – – – 66
4.3.3. Red blood cell x 106 – – – – – – 66
4.3.4. White blood cell x 103 – – – – – – – 66
CHAPTER FIVE
5.1 Discussion, – – – – – – – – – 67
5.2 Conclusion – – – – – – – – – 72
5.3. Recommendations – – – – – – – – 73
REFERENCES – – – – – – – –
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The increasing demand for animal protein coupled with more stringent
economic conditions have encouraged greater interest in fast growing animals
with short generation interval. Poultry and pigs are the first choice but their
production is more demanding because of the high cost of production and
competition with man for feedstuffs. Fetuga (1997) reported on the
disappointing rate and level of performance in the livestock industry in Nigeria.
This he attributed, among other factors, to high cost of feeds arising largely
from fluctuations in feed supplies, rising prices of ingredients, poor quality
feeds, inefficiency in production and distribution in the feed industry.
Many investigators have suggested ways of increasing the low animal
protein intake of Nigerians. One of the cheapest producers of meat that can
easily fit into the wider segment of the population but which has been neglected
in Nigeria is the rabbit. The rabbit has the ability to convert feedstuff such as
forages, most agricultural by-products, kitchen waste etc that human being
cannot consume directly into highly nutritious meat. Rabbits are highly prolific,
cheap to feed because they can utilize roughage feeds, they have rapid growth
rate, high dressing percentage, short gestation period and low purchasing price.
However, efficient rabbit production is largely dependent upon adequate and
correct nutrition (Standford 1979). There is no rabbit so good that poor nutrition
will not ruin nor any bad one that good feeding will not improve.
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A rabbit which is not well fed can not give its best, and when it is realised
that the greatest cost of producing rabbits lies in the nutrition, correct feeding
therefore becomes of utmost importance to the rabbit producer. The quantity of
feed provided is important but the quality or type of feed is more important
because poor nutrition result in slow growth rate, inefficient reproduction and
predisposes the animals to diseases.
Aduku and Olukosi (1990) reported a digestible energy range of 10.00 –
10.46 MJ/Kg for optimum performance of rabbits in the tropics. The digestible
energy (DE) level reported by these workers are, however, similar to digestible
energy (DE) of 10.46 MJ/Kg recommended by NRC (1977) for growing rabbits
in temperate zones. Aduku and Olukosi (1990) also reported a range of 2390-
2500 K cal/Kg of energy and crude protein level of 12-17% for optimum
performance of rabbits in the tropics. Fielding (1991) had reported a range of 16
– 18% crude protein (CP) as optimal for growing rabbits.
In recent years, there have been renewed interests in the use of nonconventional
ingredients in feeds formulation for livestock. Standford (1979)
reported that, there is a wide range of feedstuff on which rabbits can live on.
Therefore, alternative feed sources need to be investigated such as, Moringa
oleifera, the leaves of which have been used as animal feed in many places.
Moringa oleifera leaves, stems, roots and other parts have been popularly used
as animals feeds in countries such as Senegal, Niger, Kenya, Tanzania,
Zimbabwe, Gambia, Malawi, India, Spain, USA and Germany etc (Fugile,
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1999). However, it potentials as an animal feed supplement have not been
properly documented in Nigeria.
Moringa oleifera is a multipurpose browse plant with useful
characteristics. The leaves and green fresh pods are used as vegetable by man
and are rich in carotene and ascorbic acid with a good profile of amino acids
(Makkar and Becker 1996). It is also used as livestock feed and its twigs are
reported to be very palatable to ruminants and have appreciable crude protein
levels ranging from 26 – 27 percent (Sutherland et al 1990, Sarwatt et al 2002,
Kimoro 2002).
Fuglie (1999) stated that the high bioavailability of Moringa oleifera
leaves and stems make them an excellent feed for cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and
rabbits. The leaves of Moringa oleifera are an excellent source of the sulphur
containing amino acids, methionine and cysteine, which are often limiting in
most feedstuff used for feeding animals (Maroyi, 2006). Moringa oleifera leaves
have also been used as an alternative protein source for tilapia fish production
(Becker et al, 2002).
Mathur (2006) indicated that cattle fed with the leaf and green stems of
Moringa oleifera can increase milk production by 43 – 65% and increased daily
weight gain in cattle by up to 32%. Onimisi et al (2007) indicated that Moringa
oleifera leaf meal can be included up to 30% in rabbits diet without any adverse
effect on the growth performance. Moringa oleifera can also be included up to
20% in the diets of laying birds without any adverse effect (Kakengi et al 2007).
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The authors went further to state that, the high pepsin and total soluble protein
makes Moringa oleifera leaf meal a more suitable feedstuff to monogastric
animals.
In most parts of Nigeria especially in the north, the fresh leaves of
Moringa oleifera are used as vegetable, roots for medicinal purposes and
stem/branches for demarcation of property, boundaries in farmland and in house
fencing (Muyibi and Evison, 1994). The abundance of Moringa oleifera plant
in most part of the country as natural pasture, is a good indication that the plant
can be successfully used to reduce the problems of the short supply of protein
sources currently being experienced by feed millers. Nigeria like many other
developing countries is currently faced with the shortage and high cost of
conventional feeds for poultry, rabbits and other livestock with protein sources
of plants and animal origin constituting one of the greatest part of the cost.
Therefore, there is the need to investigate alternative feed source like
Moringa oleifera to see to what extent it can supplement or completely replace
plant proteins sources in animal feeds.
1.1 Objectives
This research work was aimed at investigating the response of weaner
rabbits to diets containing graded levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal. The
specific objectives of the study were as follows:
i. To assess the growth performance of weaner rabbits fed graded levels
of Moringa oleifera leaf meal.
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ii. To evaluate the effects of the diets on the carcass characteristics of the
rabbits.
iii. To determine the haematological properties of rabbits fed Moringa
oleifera leaf meal.
iv. To determine the cost implication of feeding graded levels of dietary
Moringa oleifera leaves to rabbits.
1.2 Justification of the Study
The high cost of protein feedstuff for livestock feeding, resulting from the
scarcity of feedstuff such as fishmeal, groundnut cake and soya bean meal and
the high competition that exists between man and animals for the conventional
feed stuffs, has necessitated the need for maximizing the effective utilization of
non-conventional feedstuffs.
This can be achieved by reducing the quantity of these expensive
feedstuffs and supplementing them with cheaper non-conventional protein
feedstuff like Moringa oleifera. In this way the cost of production of rabbit
feeds will be greatly reduced, thereby making the feeds affordable to rabbit
farmers.
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