Nutrient intake, digestibility and growth rate of rabbits fed varying levels of cassava leaf meal

Abstract

Forty young rabbits were fed on five diets varying in cassava leaf meal (CLM) levels from 0% to 60%. Dry matter and nutrient intake and digestibility, weight gain and economics of CLM inclusion were determined. The DMI (g/d) ranged from 44.24 (60% CLM) to 66.85 (15% CLM); daily live weight gain (LWG, g/d) from 8.43 (60% CLM) to 21.36 (15% CLM); feed conversion ratio (FCR) from 3.13 (15% CLM) 10 5.27 (45% CLM). Differences between treatments in these production criteria were significant (P<0.01). Water consumption (l/kg) increased with inc levels of CLM inclusion (P<0.05). The digestibility of dry matter (DMD) and other nutrients decreased with increasing level of CLM inclusion (P<0.05). Economic analysis showed that diet 1 (0% CLM) was the least economical. Feed cost (N/kg gain) was similar for diets 2 to 5 (P>0.05). It may be concluded that CLM included at between 15 to 30% of the diet is adequate for growing rabbits.