Indian Journal of Animal Nutrition
  • Year: 2021
  • Volume: 38
  • Issue: 2

Effects of graded levels of boiled rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) seeds meal on growth and carcass characteristics of rabbits

  • Author:
  • Matho Amandine1, Defang Fualefac Henry12, Vemo Bertin Narcisse3, Kana Sagne Augustin Derrick1, Kana Jean Raphael1, Teguia Alexis1
  • Total Page Count: 8
  • Page Number: 187 to 194

1Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, P.O. Box: 222Dschang, Cameroon

2University of Buea, Higher Technical Teachers Training Collage (HTTTC), Kumba, Cameroon

3Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, PO Box: 63Buea-Cameroon

*Corresponding author's Email: amandine_matho@yahoo.com

Online Published on 31 December, 2021.

Abstract

The present study was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Dschang-Cameroon, in order to evaluate the effects of inclusion level of rubber seed meal (RSM) on growth performances and carcass characteristics in rabbits. Sixty rabbits (30 males and 30 females) aged 2 months and weighing 900± 80 g were randomly assigned to the 5 experimental rations, that is 12 rabbits (6@& and 6B &) for each ration, in a completely randomized design. The 1st group received ration free from RSM (T0); the 2nd group received ration containing 20% of raw RSM (R20); and the 3rd, 4th and 5th groups received rations containing respectively 20, 25 and 30% of boiled RSM (B20, B25 and B30). The feed intake (FI) and live weight (LW) were recorded weekly for 3 months. At the end of the trial, 8 rabbits (4 males and 4 females) per treatment were randomly selected and slaughtered for carcass characteristics evaluation.Results showed that the FI and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) decreased insignificantly (P>0.05) in rabbits fed with rations containing boiled RSM (B30 for the FI and B25 for the FCR) compared to those receiving T0 ration. Live weight and weight gain increased non-significantly (P>0.05) in rabbits fed with the B25 ration compared to those receiving T0 and R20 rations. The carcass yield, the weights of liver, kidneys, heart, abdominal fat, caecum, big intestine, ileum, and the lengths of ileum and large intestine were comparable (P>0.05) among the groups. Cost of a kg of feed was 184.17 and 180.25 CFAF, respectively for B25 and B30 rations, that is a reduction of 17.51 and 19.26% compared to T0 (223.25 CFAF). The production cost of a kg of live weight was 1676.61, 1084.76 and 1130.17 CFAF, respectively for T0, B25 and B30 rations. Therefore, the inclusion of boiled RSM in feed increased the growth performances and reduced the cost of production. Hence, boiled rubber seed meal can be used in rabbit ration upto 25% without any adverse impact on growth performance.

Keywords

Boiling, Growth performances, Production cost, Rabbit, Rubber seed meal