Open AccessEffect of graded levels of raw bambara nut (Voandzeia subterranea L) waste on nutrient intake, digestibility and utilization by rabbits
Author(s) -
A. O. Ani
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
nigerian journal of animal production
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 0331-2062
DOI - 10.51791/njap.v36i2.1360
Subject(s) - zoology , dry matter , body weight , nut , nutrient , completely randomized design , feed conversion ratio , biology , chemistry , endocrinology , ecology , structural engineering , engineering
The effect of graded levels of raw bambara nut (Voandzeia subterranea L) waste on nutrient intake, digestibility and utilization by weaner rabbits was investigated. Four diets were formulated to contain 0, 10, 20 and 30% raw bambara nut waste (RBW). Twenty-four hybrid (Chinchilla x New Zealand white) weaner rabbits weighing 790-880g at six weeks were randomly divided into four groups of6 rabbits each. The groups were randomly assigned to the four diets in a completely randomized design (CRD) for 56 days. Each treatment was replicated 3 times with two rabbits per replicate. Results showed that significant differences (P 0.05) among treatments in relative organ weights and in carcass dressing percentage, the kidney of rabbits fed 30% RBW diets had mild degeneration necrosis and dilatation of the tubules. Bile duct dilatation, hyperplasia of the bile duct epithelia cells. fibrosis and thickening of the interlobular septa were observed in the liver of rabbits fed 30% RBW diets. The depression in nutrient intake, and weight gain, and the observed histopathological changes at 20 and 30% RBW levels could be due to ant nutritional factors present in the raw bambara nut waste or done to high fibre levels of RBW The results indicate that up to 10% RBH can be included in the diets of weaner rabbits without serious deleterious effects on rabbits