GROWTH, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF WEANED RABBITS (ORYCTOLAGUS CUNNICULUS) FED DIETS CONTAINING VARYING LEVELS OF HORSERADISH (MORINGA OLEIFERA) LEAF MEAL

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out using twenty four (24) female and 4 male weaned rabbits all of New Zealand White, and American Chinchilla breeds aged between 4- 6 weeks with mean weight of between 363- 460 g to evaluate growth, carcass characteristics and reproductive performance of the weaned rabbits fed diets containing varying levels of horseradish (Moringa oleifera) leaf meal (MOLM). The rabbits were divided into 4 treatment groups consisting of 6 rabbits per treatment group, replicated in a complete randomized design, and fed four diets designated T1, T2, T3 and T4 with 0 %, 10 %, 20 % and 30 % M O L M inclusion level, respectively. The experiment lasted for 12 weeks for growth and 16 weeks for reproductive and carcass phase respectively. Results showed that horseradish (Moringa oleifera) leaf meal contains the following anti-nutritional factors which were below lethal levels; tannin (21.19 mg/100 g), phytate (2.57 mg/100 g), trypsin inhibitor (3.00 mg/100 g), saponin (1.00 mg/100 g), and oxalates (0.45 mg/100 g) .Parameters evaluated for growth phase, included final body weight, daily weight gain, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio. (FCR).It was observed from this study that, T3 (20 %) M O L M inclusion level had the highest significant final body weight (3135.90 g), daily weight gain, (31.90 g) and daily feed intake of (83.42 g) respectively. The significantly lowest feed conversion ratio (F C R) 2.62 recorded for rabbits in 20 % M O L M inclusion level was an indication that at this level there was better utilization by the rabbits, while the highest F C R in T4 (10.25) indicated poor utilization of the feed at that level of M O L M inclusion. The litter birth weight values ranged from 32.10-38.07 g for T1 to T3; T4 and T3 recorded the highest values (p<0.05) of 55.20 and 59.10 respectively for gestation gain. The weaning traits were significantly affected by the dietary treatments, with T3 having the highest (p<0.05) size (3.33) at weaning and survival rate at weaning 66. 60 %. T2 and T3 recorded excellent performance 442.30 g, 408.40 g and 462.52, 421.84 g for mean litter weight at weaning and litter weight gain, respectively. The carcass cuts and organ weights were not significantly (p> 0.05) different across the treatments except for lumber-sacral, 13.17 g (T2,)  full intestine 9.95 % (T4) and abdominal fat, 4.33 (T2).Based on the findings of this study, it could be concluded that anti-nutritional factors in Moringa oleifera leaf meal is below lethal level. At 20 % inclusion level, the animals performed significantly better (p< 0.05) for daily weight gain and feed intake over the control group. The best performance for growth and reproduction were observed in rabbit fed 20 % inclusion level of M O L M. Rabbits fed 20 % Moringa  oleifera were observed to have better digestibility of ether extract, ash and nitrogen free-extract. While those on 10 % and 20 % M O L M had the highest (p <0.05 lumber-sacral weight. The inclusion of MOLM level at 30 %, had the highest (p <0.05) values for full intestine and abdominal fat. It was consequently concluded that, 20 %  MO L M  included to rabbits’ diet did not have any deleterious effect on the growth, carcass characteristics and reproductive parameter of rabbits.It was recommended therefore, that, 20 %  horseradish (Moringa oleifera) leaf meal can be included in rabbit diet for effective growth, reproductive performance and carcass quality.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of study

The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), (1995) reported that, there is insufficient food supply in developing countries of the world, including Nigeria. This has resulted in malnutrition, reduced productivity and general underdevelopment. The most important fact of worry is the inadequate animal protein in the diet of an average Nigeria. World Health Organization, (WHO, 2006) stated that on the  average, a Nigerian consumes about 5.5 grams of animal protein daily, which is far from the World Health Organization recommended estimate of 60 g per person daily,[World Health Organization (WHO,) 2006]. WHO, (2006) recommended an average animal protein intake of 98 kg per person annually or 65 g per person daily in Europe. With these recognitions, it becomes important to create an intervention to boost the availability of animal protein in the diet of Nigerians to meet the international recommended standard. In Nigeria, cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep and goats have not been able to produce animal protein to bridge the gap between the demand and supply. There should be an expansion in the production of highly prolific, small, livestock, with rapid turnover rates, at very low cost in order to ease the low animal protein problem. This is one of the reasons rabbit production is now receiving attention, as one of the micro livestock in order to alleviate the shortage of animal protein (Igwebuike, Anugwa, Ikurior and Ehiobu, 2001).

Rabbit production has been encouraged by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), for production of meat in the developing countries due to its, high growth rate, outstanding prolificacy, shorter gestation period, and utilization of fibre rich and low grain feeds (Cheeke, Grobner, and Patton, 2006).

Interest in consumption of Rabbit meat is growing because of its low sodium cholesterol, and fat content as compared with other meat sources. Also the rabbit meat is nearly white, fine grained, delicately flavoured, nutritious, appetizing, high in good quality protein, contains a high percent of minerals than other meats like, beef, poultry, mutton and chevon. It has a good meat – bone ratio and is acceptable to the general consumers in most countries of the world.(Amaefule, Iheukwuemere and Nwaokoro, 2005).

The feeding habit of rabbit (Oryctolagus cunniculus) does not competition with humans, because it can survive on vegetable basal diets. (Omole and Ajayi, 2006). Rabbit breeders are encountering feeding problems as there is increase rabbit industry in many African countries today and they have solely depended on concentrates for their animals. (Omole and Ajayi, 2006). To make rabbit production more viable as a small scale business, there is need for the development of cheap sources of feed as an alternative to supplement or replace cereal or protein sources in diet of rabbit in order to make production of rabbit more profitable. The high cost of conventionally used plant protein sources mainly soyabean, groundnut and cotton seed cake pose a major problem in their wide spread use as feed stuff for livestock.

It is evident that the conventional sources of feed can no longer adequately supply the needs of the fast growing livestock industry. (Abubakar , 2008). The author also stated that, once the supply of available nutrients for feeding livestock is increased, especially from unconventional sources, the sustainability of animal agriculture will be ensured.

Despite the large number of legume grains in Nigeria, only soyabean, cotton seed cake and groundnut cake are mainly used in livestock feeding. Several other locally available species that exhibit remarkable adaptation to tropical conditions have been underutilized and under- exploited for livestock feeding (Apata and Ologhobo, 2004).Alternative or unconventional plant protein sources are therefore, been sought for, to be adapted in new feeding scheme. (Omole and Ajayi , 2006).

Devendra, (1991) defined Unconventional plant protein sources (UPPS) as all those feeds that traditionally have not been used in animal feeding and /or are not commercially used for livestock rations, examples of unconventional plant protein source are; pigeon pea, locust bean, sunflower and pawpaw leaf meal.

Horseradish (Moringa oleifera) leaf meal is a good natural source of protein and can be conveniently used to replace soyabean or groundnut cake in livestock diet (Ozumba, 2000). The author stated that, Moringa leaves contain, four times the calcium in milk seven times the vitamin C in orange, three times the potassium in banana, two times the protein in milk and four times the vitamin A in carrot, that Moringa oleifera is also a natural source of protein with great potential. The leaves contain magnesium, potassium, and all of the essential amino acids like, cysteine, histidine, arginine, methionine, lysine, phenylalanine, leucine, Isoleucine and valine. Moringa leaves are eaten by sheep, pigs, cattle, goats and rabbits, the leaves are also used to feed fishes. Moringa leaves are probably ranked as the best of all the vegetables in the tropical. They contain very strong concentration of vitamins A, C and B – complex vitamins, iron, protein, zinc, selenium which is unusual for a plant source, (F A O, 1995).

Church World Service, Dakka, (1994) recommended the addition of dried leaf powder of Moringa to improve the protein content of food since 6.7 g of protein is contained in 100 g of fresh leaves. The authors also recommended that during the months of pregnancy or breast feeding, a woman should consume 65 g of protein daily, so 38 % of her protein needs of her protein needs will be satisfy by 100 g of Moringa  pod. 10.3 % of her protein needs for each day will be satisfy by 100 g fresh Moringa leaves. Moringa leaves (fresh) contain more than twice the amount of protein (2.8 g/100 g) found in spinach.(Olugbemi,  Mutayoba and Lekunle, 2010).

1.2 Statement of research problem

There is insufficient and high cost of animal protein in Nigeria, which is traceable to high cost of conventional feed ingredients (Omole and Ajayi, 2006).Rabbit breeders and farmers are facing the problem of feed scarcity especially during the dry season as there is scarcely commercialised cheap rabbit feed. The public are now conscious of high quality animal protein, like rabbit meat hence the need for the use of non-conventional feed ingredient like horseradish (Moringa oleifera), which is draught resistant and unexploited (Ozumba, 2000).

1.3 Justification of the study

High cost of conventional animal feed stuff and high demand for cheap and quality animal protein has made it imperative to use horseradish (Moringa oleifera) which is cheap, sustainable and flourishes especially during the dry season as alternative feed source for rabbit.(Ozumba, 2000). Rabbit is prolific, easy and cheap to maintain, produces animal protein of public health interest, consequently rabbit can bridge the gap between the demands and supply of quality animal protein, hence the need for intervention to boost productivity.

1.4       Aim and objectives

The aim of this research work was to investigate the growth, carcass characteristics and reproductive performance of weaned rabbits fed diets containing varying levels of horseradish (Moringa oleifera) leaf meal as a protein supplement.

1.4.1 Specific objectives

The specific objectives are to:-

i.      Assess the feed intake, feed efficiency, nutrient digestibility and body weight changes of weaned rabbits fed diets containing varying levels of horseradish (Moringa oleifera) leaf meal.

ii.       Evaluate the reproductive performance of rabbit does fed diets containing varying levels of horseradish (Moringa oleifera) leaf meal.

iii.       Evaluate the effect of feeding diets containing varying levels of horseradish (Moringa oleifera) leaf meal on the carcass cuts and organ weights of rabbits does.

iv.        Determine the best inclusion level of horseradish (Moringa oleifera) leaf meal in maize based diet for rabbit.

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