GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND COST BENEFITS ANALYSIS OF WEANER RABBITS FED TOASTED ROSELLE (Hibiscus sandariffa) SEED MEAL BASED DIETS

Abstract

This study was conducted at the Teaching and Research Animal Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State, to evaluate the effect of roselle seed meal (RSM) as a partial replacement for full-fat soybean on the growth performance and economics of production of weaner rabbits.  A total of twenty-four (24) weaner rabbits of mixed sexes were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) experiment. Each treatment was replicated four times with two rabbits per replicate. The experiment lasted for a period of eight weeks. The experimental diets contained 0% (T1), 20% (T2), and 40% (T3) levels of RSM replacing soybean ‘full fat’. Data were collected on initial weight, final weight, total weight gain, daily weight gain, daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and mortality. A cost–benefit analysis was also carried out. Results of daily feed intake (84.63-95.49g), daily weight gain (13.28-15.07g) and feed conversion ratio (6.25-6.63) measured were all similar.  Feed intake and weight gain decrease as RSM inclusion level increases, but feed conversion ratio remained similar across treatments although, the best FCR was in treatment 2 (6.25). Mortality was not recorded, indicating that RSM is safe for rabbit feeding. Cost benefits analysis revealed reduced feed cost in Naira per kilogram gain with increasing RSM inclusion levels, the highest value was the control, and the lowest treatment 2. Therefore, from this study it can be concluded that roselle seed meal can be included in weaner rabbit diets up to 20% replacement level for soya bean ‘full-fat’ without negative effects on growth performance and with corresponding reduction in feed costs.