Performance of weaner rabbits fed diets supplemented with Pawpaw (Carica Papaya) leaf meal

Abstract

14 weeks feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding pawpaw leaf meal (PLM) on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of weaned rabbits. Fourty five (45) weaned rabbits were used in a completely randomized design with five dietary treatments, each replicated three time with three (3) rabbits per replicate. The five inclusion levels of PLM (0%, 5%, 10%, 15% 20% PLM) were used. Experimental animals were housed in metal hutches having separate feeders and drinkers. They were randomly assigned to the five experimental diets of PLM. Feed intake and weight gain were measured weekly. Carcass evaluation was conducted at the end of the study. The results showed that there was no significant difference (P>0.05) among all the treatments with respect to feed intake and feed-gain ratio. Weaner rabbits fed the control diet (0% PLM) and those fed 10% PLM recorded higher weight gains (960.33g and 967.00g respectively) than those fed 5% PLM and 15% PLM (934.33g and 932.50g respectively). Dressed weight was affected (P 0.05) by feeding up to 15%PLM. It is therefore concluded that feeding pawpaw leaf meal did not adversely affects the performance of rabbits.