RESUMEN
This experiment was carried out to evaluate the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of growing rabbits fed diets containing pawpaw (Carica papaya L.) leaf protein concentrate as partial replacement for soybean meal (SBM). Five dietary treatments were formulated such that SBM was replaced with pawpaw leaf protein concentrate (PLPC) at 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60% weight-for-weight. Twenty-five composite growing rabbits of mixed sex and approximately seven weeks of age (736±90 g) were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments of five replicates in a completely randomized design. The rabbits had access to water and the experimental feed ad libitum for 12 weeks of feeding trial after one week of adaptation. Results showed that the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of rabbits recorded in this experiment were not significantly affected (p>0.05) by the replacement of SBM with PLPC, indicating that PLPC can be used to replace soybean meal up to 60% weight-for-weight without causing any adverse effect on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of rabbits. The average water-to-feed ratio was 2.54, indicating that rabbit under this condition of experiment requires an average of 2.54 mL of water for every 1 g of feed consumed. The flesh-to-bone ratio of rabbits recorded in this study was between 3.06±0.36 and 3.22±0.22. Rabbits on diets in which 60% SBM was replaced with PLPC resulted in the highest savings in terms of cost differential (â¦90.94/kg); therefore, it is cheaper for farmers to replace SBM with PLPC at 60% weight-for-weight in rabbit feeding in Nigeria.
Asunto(s)
Asimina , Carica , Animales , Conejos , Dieta/veterinaria , Nutrientes , Verduras , Hojas de la Planta , Glycine max , AguaRESUMEN
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of partial replacement of soybean meal with pawpaw (Carica papaya L.) leaf protein concentrate on blood and carcass characteristics of grower rabbits in Benin City, Nigeria. Five dietary treatments were formulated such that soybean meal was replaced at 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60% with pawpaw leaf protein concentrate (PLPC) on weight-for-weight basis. Twenty-five composite grower rabbits of mixed sex and approximately seven weeks of age (736 ± 90 g) were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments of five replicates in a completely randomized design. Feed and water were provided ad libitum for 12 weeks of feeding experiment. Data obtained from the study showed that white blood cells (WBC) was significantly (p < 0.05) increased by 60% PLPC inclusion. Pack cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBC), and haemoglobin concentration (Hgb) were not significantly (p > 0.05) affected by PLPC inclusion in the rabbit diets. However, PCV (28.90-37.43%), WBC (3.67-9.4 103/µL), and RBC (4.36-5.22 106/µL) were within the normal physiological range. Glucose and total protein concentration were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced and increased, respectively by 15% PLPC inclusion but did not follow any particular trend for higher replacement levels. Carcass measurements indicated that dressing percentage and heart, kidney, and liver weights were not significantly (p > 0.05) affected by dietary treatments. Caecum length was significantly increased (p < 0.05) by 60% PLPC inclusion. In conclusion, PLPC can be used to partially replace soybean meal without causing any adverse effect on blood and carcass characteristics of grower rabbits.