CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND ORGAN MEASUREMENT OF WEANER RABBITS FED DIETARY INCLUSION OF DRIED DISCARDED CABBAGE (BRASSICA OLERACEA) LEAVES IN SEMI-ARID ZONE OF NIGERIA
Abstract
This study investigates the carcass characteristics of weaner rabbits fed dietary inclusions of dried discarded cabbage in the semi-arid zone of Nigeria. A total of (45) weaner rabbits were randomly allocated to experimental diets containing varying inclusion levels of dried discarded cabbage leaves (0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%). At week eight (8) the rabbits were fasted over night and slaughter in the morning. Carcass characteristics and organ measurements, including dressing percentage, organ weights,. Results indicated that diets containing up to 20% inclusion of dried discarded cabbage leaves significantly improved feed conversion efficiency and yielded comparable carcass traits to the control diet (0% inclusion). Higher inclusion levels of (20%) resulted in slight reductions in growth performance and carcass quality, likely due to potential anti-nutritional factors in the cabbage leaves.This study highlights the feasibility of utilizing dried discarded cabbage leaves as a cost-effective and sustainable feed ingredient for rabbit production, particularly in semi-arid regions where feed resources are limited. The findings suggest that moderate inclusion levels can enhance resource utilization while maintaining acceptable carcass quality, contributing to food security and waste management in the region.
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