Effects of Andropogon gayanus and Centrosema pubescens leaf meal diets on the reproductive performance and economic efficiency of crossbred (New Zealand white ♀and black Chinchilla♂) rabbits

Abstract

Two forages plants (Andropogon gayanus (Ag) and Centrosema pubescens (Cp) were analysed for their anti - nutritional factors, proximate composition as well as mineral composition to establish their nutritional potentials. A feeding trial was conducted to also evaluate the effect of (Ag) and (Cp) leaf meal-based diets on the reproductive performance and economics of production of Crossbred (New Zealand White ♀ X Chinchilla black♂) rabbits. Thirty-two breeder rabbits with average initial weight of 1800.00 ± 0.01g and age between 24 and 32 weeks were used for the study. The rabbits were randomly assigned into treatments 1, 2, 3, and 4 in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Each treatment was replicated four times with two rabbits per replicate. T1 contained 0% leaf meal. T2, T3, and T4 contained 4%, 8% and 12% dietary levels of Ag and Cp leaf meals, respectively. Data were collected on feed intake, initial body weights of does and bucks, weights of bunnies, litter size, birth rate, weight at pregnancy (14 days) and infant mortality rate were collected. The data were analysed using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed that there were no significant (P>0.05) differences in all the parameters except on weight gain of bunnies (9.54 -14.53g) and birth rate of the does (3.30 – 5.00). Mortality (dead bunnies) recorded were T1 (25%), T2 (25%), T3 (12.5%), and T4 (37.5%). The result of the feed cost analysis showed that feed cost per kg weight decreased as the inclusion levels of Ag and Cp leaf meals increased. The total revenue and net returns increased with the increasing levels of inclusion of Ag and Cp leaf meals. It was therefore concluded that 12% inclusion level of Ag and Cp leaf meals each is adequate for breeder rabbits without any adverse effect on their normal reproductive performance