Effects of graded levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal on growth performance of growing male New Zealand white rabbits

Abstract

A 60 day trial with sixteen growing male New Zealand White rabbits aged 3 - 4 months and average weight of 1750±0.00g were used to determine the effect of graded levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) on growth performance. The rabbits were divided into 4 treatment groups represented as T1 (No MOLM, control), T2 (5 % MOLM), T3 (10 % MOLM), and T4 (15 % MOLM), replicated four times with a rabbit per replicate and randomly assigned to the treatment diets in a completely randomized design. The rabbits were fed in the morning and evening daily with compounded feed (CP = 13.77-15.69 %, ME = 346.64-494.90 kcal/g). Freshly cut forage consisting of Panicum maximum, Pennisetum purpureum and Centrosema pubescens were equally fed as basal diet. Water was provided ad libitum to the rabbits. In the end of the trial, data on growth performance were subjected to analysis of variance and statistical means separated with Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test. The results showed no significant differences (P>0.05) among T2, T3, and T4 in average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio, and no significant differences (P>0.05) among T1, T2 and T3 in average daily feed intake. The results of the study further showed no mortality among the treatment groups. The results of this study indicated that New Zealand White rabbits could utilize Moringa oleifera leaf meal beyond the level of 15% inclusion without any deleterious effects on their growth performance and thus further trial of MOLM inclusion is recommended.