THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMICS OF PRODUCTION OF WEANER RABBITS FED DIFFERENT SOURCES OF TREE LEGUME LEAVES AND TURMERIC IN SWEET POTATO PEEL MEAL BASED - DIET

ABSTRACT A study was conducted to evaluate the growth performance and economics of production of weaner rabbits fed different sources of tree legumes leaves (Leucaena leucocephala, Pentaclethra macrophylla and Moringa oleifera) and turmeric in a sweet potatoes peel meal based-diet. The rabbits were weighed and divided into the four treatment groups namely; treatment I, treatment II, treatment III and treatment IV. Each treatment was replicated three times with two rabbits in each cell. Experimental diet was formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of weaner rabbits using sweet potatoe peels. Tumeric powder was added to the formulated feed as additive. All the rabbits were fed the experimental diet. The tree legumes forages were fed to the rabbits in a completely random design such that treatment 1 (control) had only concentrate without forage, treatment 2 had concentrate and Leucena leucocephala , treatment 3 had Concentrate and Pentaclethra macrophylla and treatment 4 had concentrate and Moringa oleifera. All management practices necessary for the production of rabbits were observed. The experiment lasted for 56 days. Data on growth performance (average initial body weight, average final body weight, average body weight gain, average feed intake and feed conversion ratio) and economics of production ( cost of purchase of rabbits, cost of total feed intake, cost of production, selling price of rabbits and profit) were collected and subjected to ANOVA. Results of the growth parameters showed significant difference (p