PERFORMANCE OF WEANER RABBITS FED MAIZE BRAN WITH AND WITHOUT ENZYME SUPPLEMENTATION

This study evaluated the growth performance, carcass quality, hematological indices, and economics of production of weaner rabbits fed diets containing maize bran with and without exogenous enzyme supplementation. The experiment was conducted at the Rabbitry Unit of the Department of Animal Health Technology, Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Dambatta. Forty-eight (48) crossbred weaner rabbits (aged 6-7 weeks, mean initial weight 620 ± 15g) were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (T1, T2, T3, and T4) in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), with 12 rabbits per treatment and 3 rabbits per replicate. Diet T1 (Control) was a standard maize-soybean meal-based diet without maize bran or enzyme. T2 contained 30% maize bran without enzyme. T3 contained 30% maize bran supplemented with an exogenous enzyme (Roxazyme G2® at 0.1g/kg). T4 contained 45% maize bran supplemented with the same enzyme level. The feeding trial lasted 8 weeks. Results showed that Average Daily Feed Intake (ADFI) significantly (P < 0.05) increased in T2 (78.40g) and T3 (79.15g) compared to T1 (72.10g). Average Daily Weight Gain (ADWG) was highest in T3 (18.45g/day) and lowest in T2 (13.10g/day). The Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) was significantly improved (P < 0.05) in the enzyme-supplemented diet T3 (4.29) compared to the unsupplemented maize bran diet T2 (5.98). Carcass dressing percentage was higher in T1 (56.80%) and T3 (55.40%) compared to T2 (49.15%). Hematological profiles (PCV, Hb, RBC) and serum biochemistries (Total Protein, Albumin, AST, ALT) fell within normal physiological ranges for healthy rabbits, indicating no toxicological stress. Economic analysis revealed that incorporating 30% maize bran with enzyme (T3) decreased the cost per kilogram of feed and yielded the highest net return over feed costs.