Effect of Feeding Mango Fruit Rejects as Feed Ingredient on Production Performance of Non-Pure Breed Rabbits

Abstract

Novel feedstuffs have great potential for sustainability of the livestock industry because they minimize cost of production and increase availability of animal products. This study was conducted to assess the usefulness of Mango fruits Rejects Meal (MFRM) as a feed ingredient for rabbits. MFRM was incorporated into rabbit diets at 0, 22, 28, 34 and 40 % levels respectively, replacing maize in equal amounts to evaluate its effect on growth performance, carcass characteristics internal organs and economics of production of rabbits. Twenty (20) weaner rabbits with average weight of 392.75 g were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments of four replicates each in a completely randomized design (CRD) and fed for 70 days. Feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ration were evaluated. Also, three rabbits were randomly selected from each group, starved of feed, stunned and slaughtered for carcass and organ evaluation at the end of the study. The dressed carcass was cut into primal parts and internal organs were separated and weighed. Growth performance indices, carcass yield and organs measurements were similar (p>0.05) across all the treatments except for large intestine and caeca which varied without pattern. Costs decreased (P<0.05) as MFRM in the diets increased while benefits improved (p<0.05) as MFRM increased in diets. Thus, it was concluded that MFRM is a safe and profitable feed resource for rabbit production, which could also reduce environmental pollution if adequately harnessed. Hence, it is recommended that MFRM should be incorporated in rabbit diets up to 40% or completely replaced maize in rabbit diets.