The effect of feeding graded levels of raw pigeon pea seed (Cajanus cajan) meal on the performance, nutrient retention and carcass characteristics of weaner rabbits

Abstract

An 8-week study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding graded levels of raw pigeonpea seed (Cajanus cajan) meal (PSM) on the performance, nutrient retention and carcass characteristics of weaner rabbits 24 rabbits of initial average liveweight of 600-700g in a completely randomized design (CRD). Four experimental diets were formulated such that diet 1 (control) was maize soybean meal based with 0% PSM. Treatnents 2, 3 and 4 had 10, 20 and 30% PSM, respectively replacing part of maize and soybean in the diets. Results showed that there were no significant differences (P>0.05) between the rabbits fed the raw and control diets in all the performance measurements considered. The diet of 30% PSM significantly reduced (P<0.05) feed cost of weight gain and significantly improved (P<0.05) dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) digestibility more than other diets. It was concluded that raw PSM could be included up to 30%, replacing 28.57 and 71.43% of maize and soybean meal, respectively in the rabbits diets without any adverse effect on performance.