GROWTH RESPONSE OF RABBITS TO RUMEN LIQUOR–FERMENTED SUGAR BY-PRODUCT MEAL DIETS WITH MULTIGRAIN ENZYME SUPPLEMENTATION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62050/fjst2025.v10n1.659Keywords:
Rabbit, rumen-liquor, fermentation, sugar industry waste, enzyme supplementation, growth performanceAbstract
The global demand for animal protein necessitates the exploration of sustainable feed alternatives in livestock production. Rabbit farming is considered a promising avenue due to the high reproductive rate and their ability to thrive on diverse feedstuffs. This study investigated effect of rumen-liquor fermented solid waste product of sugar industry (FSWAPSI) supplemented with enzyme on the performance of rabbits. The experiment used 72 weaner rabbits assigned to a 3x2 factorial arrangement fitted into Completely Randomized Design and replicated four times with 3 rabbits each. Six diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and iso-caloric, supplementing FSWAPSI at 20, 30, and 40 % for weaners and 40, 50 and 60 % for growers, with enzyme supplementation at 0 and 200 ppm. Rumen liquor was used to inoculate SWAPSI and fermented before sun-drying. In the grower phase the result shows that higher level of the test ingredient was tolerated, 20 % FSWAPSI inclusion group showed a significant (P<0.05) increase in final weight (1426.70 g). Enzyme supplementation at 200 ppm significantly (P<0.05) depressed final weight (1240.60 g) as compared to the 0 ppm group (1398.90 g). There was significant (P<0.05) increase in average feed intake (52.61 g) and protein intake (9.5g) due to interactive effects of FSWAPSI and enzyme supplementation in the weaner phase. Conclusively, FSWAPSI can be safely incorporated up to 40 % for weaner rabbits and up to 60 % for grower rabbits. However, enzyme supplementation at 200 ppm proved unnecessary for grower rabbits as the fermentation itself effectively enhanced nutrient utilization
Downloads
References
A.O.A.C. (2006). Association of official analytical chemists. 16th ed. William Tryd Press.
Adeola, O. and Cowieson, A. J. (2011). Opportunities and challenges in the use of exogenous enzymes in poultry and swine diets. Journal of Animal Science, 89(10): 3189-3208.
Akinfala, E. O., Aderibigbe, A. O. and Matanmi, O. (2012). Utilization of agro-industrial by-products in rabbit nutrition. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production, 39(1): 113–122.
Alu, S.E., Ruma, R.S., Umbugadu, A.A.U. and Makinde, O.J. (2009). The effects of different dietary fibre sources on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing rabbits. Proceedings 14th Annual Conference of Animal Science Association of Nigeria. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. Pp: 390-392.
Anyaegbu, B. C., Egena, S. S. A. and Adeyemi, O. A. (2020). Utilization of agro-industrial by-products in rabbit nutrition: A review. Nigerian Journal of Animal Science, 22(1):8-13.
Awad, S.B., El-Deek, A.A. and Salem, S.R. (2017). Effect of dietary supplementation with different levels of spirulina on productive performance, blood biochemical parameters, and immunity of growing rabbits. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 101(2); e142-e151.
Bedford, M.R. (2000). Removal of gut microflora and its effect on growth and feed efficiency in poultry. British Poultry Science, 41(2): S18-S25.
Dairo, F. A. S., Aina, O. O and Owosibo, A. O. (2005). Performance of rabbits fed diets containing varying levels of brewers' dried grains. World Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 1(2):164-167.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). (2020). The state of world fisheries and aquaculture 2020: Sustainability in action. FAO.
Kumar, S., Chaudhry, V. and Singh, R. (2012). Rumen fermentation and nutrient digestibility in buffaloes fed wheat straw based diet supplemented with different levels of cellulase enzyme. Livestock Research International, 2(1): 1-5.
Lebas, F. (1983). The rabbit: Husbandry, health and production. FAO Animal Production and Health Paper, (21).
Leng, R. A. (1990). Factors affecting the utilisation of poor quality forages by ruminants especially under tropical conditions. Tropical Grasslands, 24(3): 195-207.
Lukefahr, S. D., and Cheeke, P. R. (1991). Rabbit production in the developing countries: A review. World Animal Review, (68): 2-10.
McDonald, P., Edwards, R. A., Greenhalgh, J. F. D., Morgan, C. A., Sinclair, L. A. and Wilkinson, R. G. (2011). Animal nutrition (7th ed.). Pearson Prentice Hall.
NiMeT (2024). Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.
Oloruntola, O. D., Ayodele, S. O. and Agbede, J. O. (2016). Growth performance and nutrient digestibility of rabbits fed diets containing processed agro-industrial by-products. Journal of Animal Science Research, 23: 1-9.
Onyeonagu, C. C., and Ugwu, S. O. C. (2012). Effect of processing methods on the nutrient composition of sugar cane bagasse. International Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 4(2): 108-111.
Roeschlau, P., Bernt, E and Gruber, W. (1974). Methods of Enzymatic Analysis. 2nd English Edition, H.U. Bergmeyer, ed. Academic press, New York.
Steel, R.G.D. and Torrie, J.H. (1980). Principles and Procedures of Statistics: A Biometrical Approach. 2nd ed. McGraw Hill Books Co. Inc. New York. pp. 63.
Tewolde, A. and Ebro, A. (2017). Review on challenges and opportunities of rabbit production in Ethiopia. Journal of Veterinary Science and Technology, 8(3):1-6.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
How to Cite
