Performance evaluation and economics of production of rabbits fed graded levels of glyricidia leaf protein concentrate as replacement for groundnut cake protein

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine optimum dietary inclusion level of Glyricidia leaf protein concentrate (GLPC), for growing rabbits. Thirty five weaned rabbits of mixed sexes were weighed and randomly allocated to five dietary treatments which contained 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% GLPC for diets 1 to 5, respectively in a completely randomized design. Diet 1 served as the control diet.Each treatment was replicated seven times with a rabbit to a replicate. Feeds and water were provided ad-libitum throughout the experimental period of 63 days. The results showed that the different test diets did not show any significant difference (P>0.05) in the average weight, feed conversion ratio and feed digestibility by the experimental rabbits. However, feed consumed decreased significantly (P<0.05) above 10%-bassed GLPC diets and lowest (62.91±1.02g/rabbit/day) at 20%-based GLPC diet. Results on economic analysis showed significant reduction in cost of feed/kg weight gain and this was most encouraging at 10%-based GLPC diet (N314.18). Cost differential and relative cost benefit also showed improved savings at 10%-based GLPC diet. The implication therefore is that rabbit production could be better enhanced when GLPC is substituted for GNC at 10% level of inclusion on equi-protein basis. [Ogunsipe et al., Performance evaluation and economics of production of rabbits fed graded levels of glyricidia leaf protein concentrate as replacement for groundnut cake protein]. International Journal of Agricultural Science, Research and Technology, 2011; 1(2):67-72].