Authors : F.O. Ahamefule. , J.A. Ibeawuchi , I.A. Ukweni and D.U. Umunnakwe
Abstract: The performance of weaner bucks fed raw and processed pigeon pea based diets were evaluated in a 60-day trial. Twenty four 6-week-old rabbits averaging 550 g in weight were randomly divided into four groups of 6 animals each and assigned 4 pigeon pea based diets in a completely randomized design. The diets generally contained maize, wheat offal, soya meal, blood meal, oyster shell, common salt as well as 20% raw, boiled, toasted and soaked pigeon Pea Seed Meal (PSM), respectively. The Crude Protein (CP %) and metabolizabble energy (Kcal DE kg 1 DM�103) contents of the diets were 13.2, 2.63; 18.3, 2.67; 14.3, 2.71 and 16.4, 2.61, respectively. The parameters measured were Average Daily Feed Intake (ADFI), Average Daily Gain (ADG), Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) as well as carcass characteristics. Results showed that ADFI (g), ADG (g) and FCR differed significantly (p< 0.05) among treatment groups. The values were 64.4, 10.1, 7.15; 78.5, 13.2, 5.97; 85.0, 12.4, 6.85 and 81.8, 11.7, 6.98 for rabbits fed raw, boiled, toasted and soaked PSM based diets, respectively. Rabbits fed diet containing boiled PSM had significantly (p< 0.05) lower FCR and higher ADG than those of other treatment groups. The animals subsisting on boiled PSM diet also had significantly higher (p< 0.05) dressed percentage as well as superior (p< 0.05) shoulder, loin and thigh weights relative to their counterparts in other treatment groups. Rabbits were generally favorably disposed to diet containing boiled pigeon pea seed meal in terms of relative performance.
F.O. Ahamefule. , J.A. Ibeawuchi , I.A. Ukweni and D.U. Umunnakwe , 2007. Performance of Weaner Rabbits Fed Diets Containing Raw and Processed Pigeon Pea Seed Meal (Cajanus cajan) . Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 6: 797-801.