ABSTRACT
wo experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of weaner rabbits fed maize husk based diets with or without enzyme supplementation. In the first experiment, thirty six weaner rabbits were used for the study. Maize husk replaced rice offal at 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20% inclusion levels for treatments one to six respectively. Each treatment consisted of six rabbits and each rabbit served as a replicate in a completely randomized design. In the second experiment, each treatment consisted of six rabbits and each rabbit served as a replicate in a completely randomized design. The experimental diets consisted of 20% maize husk supplemented with enzyme at 0.00, 0.02, 0.03 and 0.04% for treatments one to four respectively. Maize husk had significant (P<0.05) effect on final body weight, average daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio and feed cost per kg gain. Packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin level (Hb) were not significantly affected (P>0.05) by dietary maize husk. However, total protein (TP) was significantly affected. Crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract and nitrogen free extract significantly decreased (P<0.05) with increasing levels of maize husk. Thigh, skin, dressing percentage, slaughter weight and dressed weight significantly (P<0.05) declined with increasing levels of maize husk. In all parameters studied, the best results was obtained for rabbits fed 4% maize husk while the poorest result was obtained for rabbits fed 20% maize husk. In the second experiment, twenty four weaner rabbits were used. Rabbits fed diets supplemented with 0.02% enzyme gave the best results in average daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and feed cost per kilogram weight gain, nutrient digestibility and carcass evaluation. This performance declined as the levels of enzyme supplementation increased. It was therefore concluded that weaner rabbits can tolerate up to 4% maize husk in their diets. This inclusion level could be increased up to 20% if enzyme is supplemented at 0.02% level.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. i
DECLARATION …………………………………………………………………………………………………… ii
CERTIFICATION ………………………………………………………………………………………………… iii
DEDICATION ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ……………………………………………………………………………………….. v
ABSTRACT ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS ………………………………………………………………………………………. vii
LIST OF TABLES ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. xii
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………………………………….. 1
1.1 Justification of study ……………………………………………………………………………….. 3
1.2 Objectives of the study …………………………………………………………………………….. 3
1.3 Hypotheses ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW…………………………………………………………………………. 5
2.1 Origin and distribution of rabbits ………………………………………………………………. 5
2.2 Nutrient requirements of the rabbit…………………………………………………………….. 6
2.2.1 Energy ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6
2.2.2 Lipids …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6
2.2.3 Protein ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7
2.2.4 Protein requirement for growth …………………………………………………………………. 8
2.2.5 Protein and amino acids requirement………………………………………………………….. 9
viii
2.2.6 Mineral elements requirement …………………………………………………………………. 10
2.2.7 Water requirement ………………………………………………………………………………… 11
2.3 Feeding behavior of the growing rabbit …………………………………………………….. 11
2.4 Challenges in the use of non-conventional feedstuffs for rabbit …………………….. 12
2.5 Strategies to improve the quality of non-conventional feedstuffs for
incorporation in rabbit diet ……………………………………………………………………… 13
2.5.1 Crop breeding ………………………………………………………………………………………. 13
2.5.2 Feed processing ……………………………………………………………………………………. 13
2.5.3 Feed Additives ……………………………………………………………………………………… 13
2.6 Importance and uses of maize husk in animal feed ……………………………………… 14
2.7 Maize husk in rabbit nutrition …………………………………………………………………. 14
2.8 Role of fibre in rabbit nutrition ……………………………………………………………….. 15
2.9 Role of fibre in maintaining rabbit gut health …………………………………………….. 16
2.10 Role of fibre in preventing digestive disorders in growing rabbit…………………… 17
2.11 Fibre digestion and degradation by rabbits ………………………………………………… 18
2.12 Role of Enzyme in Fibre Digestion and Utilization …………………………………….. 18
CHAPTER THREE
MATERIALS AND METHODS …………………………………………………………….. 20
3.1 Experimental site ………………………………………………………………………………….. 20
3.2 Source and processing of the maize husk ………………………………………………….. 20
3.3 Proximate analyses …………………………………………………………………………………….. 20
3.4 Experiment 1: ………………………………………………………………………………………. 23
3.4.1 Proximate Composition of Maize Husk …………………………………………………….. 23
3.4.2 Experimental diets: …………………………………………………………………………………….. 23
ix
3.4.3 Management of experimental animals and data collection ……………………………. 23
3.4.4 Carcass evaluation ………………………………………………………………………………… 25
3.4.5 Haematological evaluation ……………………………………………………………………… 25
3.4.6 Digestibility study …………………………………………………………………………………. 25
3.5 Data analysis………………………………………………………………………………………… 26
3.6 Experiment 2: ………………………………………………………………………………………. 26
3.6.1 Effect of Enzyme Supplementation of 20% Maize Husk
Based Diets on the Performance of Weaner Rabbits ……………………………………. 26
3.6.2 Management of experimental animals and data collection ……………………………. 28
3.6.3 Carcass evaluation ………………………………………………………………………………… 28
3.6.4 Haematological evaluation, Digestibility study and Data Analysis
were carried out as described in Experiment 1. …………………………………………… 28
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS …………………………………………………………………………………………… 29
4.1 Performance of Weaner Rabbits Fed Graded Levels of Maize Husk as
Replacement for Rice Offal…………………………………………………………………….. 29
4.2 Carcass Characteristics of Weaner Rabbits Fed Graded
Levels of Maize Husk as Replacement for Rice Offal …………………………………. 31
4.3 Haematological Parameters of Weaner Rabbits Fed Graded
Levels of Maize Husk as Replacement for Rice Offal ………………………………… 33
4.4 Digestibility of Nutrients by Weaner Rabbits Fed Diets in
which Maize Husk Replaced Rice Offal …………………………………………………… 35
4.5 Performance of Weaner rabbits Fed 20% Maize Husk
Based Diets Supplemented with Enzyme ………………………………………………… 38
x
4.6 Carcass Characteristics of Weaner Rabbits Fed 20% Maize
Husk Based Diets Supplemented with Enzyme …………………………………………. 41
4.7 Haematological Parameters of Weaner Rabbits Fed 20% Maize
Husk Based Diets Supplemented with Enzyme ………………………………………… 43
4.8: Nutrient Digestibility of Weaner Rabbits Fed 20% Maize
Husk Based Diets Supplemented with Enzyme…………………………………….. 45
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION………………………………………………………………………………………. 47
5.1 Performance of Weaner Rabbits Fed Graded Levels of Maize
Husk as Replacement for Rice Offal ………………………………………………………… 47
5.2 Carcass Evaluation of Weaner Rabbits Fed Graded Levels of
Maize Husk as Replacement for Rice Offal ……………………………………………….. 47
5.3 Haematological Evaluation of Weaner Rabbits Fed Graded
Levels of Maize Husk as Replacement for Rice Offal …………………………………. 48
5.4 Nutrient Digestibility of Weaner Rabbits Fed Maize Husk
Based as Replacement for Maize Husk Replaced Rice Offal ………………………… 49
5.5 Performance of Weaner Rabbits Fed 20% Maize Husk Based Diets
Supplemented with Enzyme ……………………………………………………………………. 50
5.6 Carcass Characteristics of Weaner Rabbits Fed 20% Maize
Husk Based Diets Supplemented with Enzyme ………………………………………….. 52
5.7: Haematological Parameters of Weaner Rabbits Fed 20% Maize
Husk Based Diets Supplemented with Enzyme …………………………………………. 53
5.8: Nutrient Digestibility of Weaner Rabbits Fed 20% Maize
Husk Based Diets Supplemented with Enzyme ………………………………………….. 54
xi
CHAPTER SIX
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION ………………………. 55
6.1 Summary …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 55
6.2 Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………………………… 55
6.3 Recommendation ………………………………………………………………………………….. 56
REFERENCES ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 57
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Inadequate animal protein in the diets of people in developing countries has called for the integration of some micro livestock in the farming system as sources of animal protein. Productivity of these livestock will depend to a large extent on their ability to utilize feeds that have no value in human diets. Increased rabbit production is one way of meeting the animal protein requirements of the Nigerian populace (Iyeghe-Erakpotobor et al., 2002). Increased production of breeders can be ensured through proper nutrition and feeding of weaner rabbits. Supply of meat always remains a major constraint in animal production due to the ever increasing cost of conventional feedstuffs occasioned by the competition between man and livestock (Amaefule et al., 2004). The key to abundant animal production is the availability of cheap and balanced feed. Feed dictates how many animals you can grow and how fast they can mature for the market (Aduku, 1992). Weaner rabbits require 2400-2600 kcal ME/kg of feed 15% crude protein and 9-17% crude fibre (Aduku, 2005). The fibre requirement is higher than that of monogastric animals, because rabbits have a large caecum with microbial organisms which aid in the breakdown of the high fibre. Rabbits possess various attributes that are advantageous in comparism to other livestock, Taylor et al., (1989) noted that rabbit meat is of excellent protein quality, low in total as well as saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. Therefore, rabbit production is considered a good source of meat in the developing countries where there is an abundance of agro-industrial by-product feedstuffs.
The insufficient supply of feedstuffs at economic prices has continued to limit the production and thus, availability of animal protein in the diets of humans in the developing countries of the world. This situation has compelled animal nutritionists to intensity research into
2
alternative feed sources to reduce cost of animal proteins (Raharjo et al., 1988). Rabbits have a number of characteristics that are advantageous to small holder subsistence integrated farming system. The traits include small body size, short generation interval, rapid growth rate, genetic diversity and high performance potential which make rabbits suitable as meat producing micro livestock in developing countries (Arijeniwa et al., 2000). For livestock production in Nigeria to be profitable one has to search for ways to reduce the cost of feed used in production through the use of non-conventional feedstuffs. Maize husk is an example of non-conventional feedstuffs. It is the leafy fibrous sheath covering the corn ear which farmers remove and large quantities are left on the farm after harvest to be grazed by small and large ruminants. Maize husk is usually subjected to trampling, soiling and termite damage, with less than 50% being consumed by livestock (Munthali et al., 2000). Maize crop residues compared with other cereal residues produce the largest proportion of the total crop residues hence they serve as a major source of ruminant feed in Africa and Nigeria in particular (Tang et al., 2006). Non-conventional feedstuffs are however bulky, low in digestible nutrients and high in fibre thereby posing a limitation to their use. These limitations can be overcome through enzyme supplementation of the fibrous feed materials which in turn aids digestion, improve nutrient uptake, prevent nutritional deficiencies and improve growth performance of the animals.
Mc Donald et al. (1995) reported that the digestibility and intake of highly lignified cereal crop residues may be improved by physical and biological treatment/processing. Several studies have been carried out on the use of exogenous enzymes in rabbit diets to improve nutrient utilization (Falcao-e- Cunha et al., 2007), reduce mortality (Garcia et al., 2005) and also improve feed conversion ratio (Eiben et al., 2004). In addition, enzyme supplementation increased serum glucose concentration and decreased cholesterol concentration. Colombatto
3
et al. (2003) reported that enzyme supplementation in rabbit diet improved the impact of supplemented enzymes on ceacal fermentation thus, the enhancement in feed utilization. Gutierrez et al. (2002) also observed that enzyme supplementation in rabbit diet resulted in better digestibility of nutrients and improved feed conversion ratio. The aim of the study was to evaluate the performance of weaner rabbits fed graded levels of maize husk based diets with or without enzyme supplementation.
1.1 Justification of study
Literature abounds on the use of maize crop residue in rabbit nutrition, some of which includes: the use of maize offal Vantsawa et al., (2007), maize Stover Jokthan et al., (2009) and maize bran Onakpa et al., (2011). However, not much study has been done on the use of maize husk in rabbit diet. Consequently, the study was carried out to evaluate the performance of weaner rabbits fed maize husk based diets with and without enzyme supplementation.
1.2 Objectives of the study
1. To evaluate the performance characteristics, nutrient retention, carcass characteristics and hematological parameters of weaner rabbits fed diets in which maize husk replaced rice offal.
2. To evaluate the performance characteristics, nutrient retention, carcass characteristics and hematological parameters of weaner rabbits fed maize husk based diets supplemented with graded levels of enzyme.
4
1.3 Hypotheses
HO1: Diets in which maize husk replaced rice offal has no effect on performance characteristics, nutrient retention, carcass characteristics and hematological parameters of weaner rabbits. HA1: Diets in which maize husk replaced rice offal has effect on performance characteristics, nutrient retention, carcass characteristics and hematological parameters of weaner rabbits. HO2: Enzyme supplementation on maize husk based diets has no effect on performance characteristics, nutrient retention, carcass characteristics and hematological parameters of weaner rabbits. HA2: Enzyme supplementation on maize husk based diets has effect on performance characteristics, nutrient retention, carcass characteristics and hematological parameters of weaner rabbits.
5
IF YOU CAN'T FIND YOUR TOPIC, CLICK HERE TO HIRE A WRITER»
