Growth Performance of Weaner Rabbits Fed Graded Levels of Leucaena leucocephala Seeds Supplemented Diet

Abstract

This study examined the effects of varying levels of Leucaena leucocephala seed meal as a plant protein source on the growth performance of weaned rabbits. The rabbits aged 0000 and average body weight was 693g randomly divided into four experimental groups. Sixteen weaned rabbits were used for the study with four diet groups containing 0, 15, 30 and 45% Leucaena leucocephala seed meal as a replacement for soya bean cake and measurements taken in a 56-day experimental period were: final body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio.  Four rabbits were randomly allotted to each dietary treatment after balancing for sex, color and body weight, and kept in individual pens. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance. Results showed that no significant differences among groups in the growth performance of weaned rabbits. The body weight gain of the rabbits decreased as the proportion of Leucaena leucocephala seed meal in the diets increased, except with 30% inclusion. The final body weights were 467.00g, 465.25g, 642.75g, and 304.25g for 0, 15, 30 and 45% inclusions, respectively. Average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio were 71.85, 68.75, 68.67, 68.66g/rabbit, and 8.6, 8.27, 5.98 and 12.65 for the respective diets/inclusions. Though the study asserts that Leucaena leucocephala seed meal had adverse effects on the feed intake, body weight gain and growth performance when it is included in the ratio beyond 30% level of the rabbit diet, yet the inclusion of 30% Leucaena leucocephala seed meal in the diet of weaned rabbits ensured optimum performance and is therefore encouraged as a healthy practice.