POTENTIAL OF BREAD FRUIT- AN ECOLOGICALLY FOREST BASED FEED RESOURCE IN RABBIT NUTRITION

Abstract

 Productive response of rabbits fed with diets containing graded levels of sun dried breadfruit (SBFM) meal were studied using 80 unsexed weaner rabbits. Four dietary treatments were formulated such that SBFM replaced maize weight for weight at 0%, 22.2%, 44.4% and 66.6% levels respectively. Rabbits were randomly allotted to the dietary treatments such that there were 20 rabbits per treatment. Growth response, nutrient utilization, haematological indices, serum biochemistry, carcass yield and meat composition were evaluated. Rabbits fed with 22.2% maize replaced with SBFM recorded the highest (P<0.05) values for final live weight, weight gained, dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre digestibility, chilled carcass weight, reference carcass weight and dressing out percentage. Meat from rabbits fed with SBFM based diets recorded higher (P<0.05) ash and Fe contents than meat obtained from rabbit fed with control diet. Rabbits fed diets containing 66.7% maize replaced with SBFM recorded the highest (P<0.05) value of 16.20 g/dl and 102.50 x 1012/L for Hb and RBC respectively. It was concluded that SBFM could be used to replace maize at 22.2% in a rabbit concentrate without any adverse effect on growth response, nutrient digestibility, haematological indices, serum biochemistry and carcass yield.