Basic HTML Version
International Journal of Molecular Veterinary Research
2012, Vol.2, No.3, 8
-
13
http://ijmvr.sophiapublisher.com
10
Table 2 The economics of rabbit production fed
Moringa oleifera
leaf meal (MOLM)
Parameters
Levels of groundnut cake replacement with
Moringa oleifera
leaf meal (%)
SEM
0
20
40
60
80
100
Cost of feed (N/kg)
62.02
a
60.56
a
59.12
ab
56.92
b
55.18
c
53.76c 1.3
*
Cost of feed consumed (N)
243.12
a
244.86
a
259.89
a
228.86
b
205.49
c
193.88c 10.3
*
Cost of rearing (N/Rabbit)
1 043.12
1 044.86
1 059.89
1 028.86
1 005.49
993.88 10.3
Selling price (N)
1 500
1 500
1 500
1 500
1 500
1 500
-
Profit (N)
456.88
455.14
440.11
471.14
494.51
506.12 10.3
Gross profitability (N)
43.80
43.56
41.53
45.79
49.18
50.92
1.5
Feed cost efficiency
0.71
0.72
0.70
0.80
0.89
0.95
0.04
Note: SEM = Standard Error of Means; * = Significantly different (
P
<0.05); a,b,c,d = Means in the same row with different
superscript differ significantly (
P
<0.05)
showed significant difference (
P
<0.05) between the
treatments. It was observed that the feed cost (
N
per kg)
decreased with the increase in the level of MOLM in
the experimental diet from
N
62.02 at 0% which was
the highest to
N
53.76 at 100% replacement which was
the lowest cost of feed.
The cost of feed consumed was also significantly
different (
P
<0.05) between the treatments. Rabbits fed
40% MOLM showed the highest (
N
259.89) cost of
feed consumed which was statistically different the
other treatments. Rabbits fed 80 and 100% MOLM
had the lowest cost of feed consumed which were
comparable (
P
>0.05).
The cost of rearing was also significant (
P
<0.05)
between the treatments. The highest cost of rearing
(
N
1059.89) was recorded at 40% MOLM diet while
the lowest cost of rearing (
N
993.88) was recorded at
100% MOLM diet.
The Profit, Gross profitability and Feed cost efficiency
showed the same trend as the highest and lowest
values were recorded at 100% and 40% MOLM
respectively. The highest profit, gross profitability and
feed cost efficiency values of
N
506.12,
N
50.92 and
0.95 respectively were obtained at 100% MOLM diet.
The nitrogen intake, faecal nitrogen and the nitrogen
digestibility were shown in Table 3. The nitrogen
intake did not vary significantly (
P
>0.05) between the
treatments. All the rabbits had comparable (
P
>0.05)
nitrogen intake. The values ranged between 2.29~2.31
g. The faecal nitrogen also did not vary between the
treatments. The faecal nitrogen between the treatments
were comparable (
P
>0.05). The values ranged
between 0.66~0.68 g. The nitrogen balance represents
the difference between the nitrogen intake and the
faecal nitrogen. The values showed no significant
effect (
P
>0.05). The values obtained were highly
comparable. The experimental diets had no significant
effect (
P
>0.05) on the nitrogen digestibility of the
grower rabbits, although this values were high in all
the treatment.
2 Discussion
The final body weight showed significant difference
(
P
<0.05) between the treatment, as high weight gain
in animals is normally as a result of increased feed
intake. In this study, there was increase in final body
weight and body weight gain with increase in the level
Table 3 Nitrogen digestibility of rabbits fed
Moringa oleifera
leaf meal (MOLM)
Parameters
Levels of groundnut cake replacement with
Moringa oleifera
leaf meal (%)
SEM
0
20
40
60
80
100
Nitrogen intake (g)
2.31
2.29
2.30
2.30
2.30
2.29
0.001
NS
Faecal nitrogen (g)
0.68
0.67
0.66
0.66
0.68
0.68
0.004
NS
Nitrogen balance (g)
1.63
1.62
1.64
1.64
1.62
1.61
0.005
NS
Nitrogen digestibility (%)
70.56
70.74
71.30
71.30
70.43
70.31
0.018
NS
Note: SEM = Standard Error of Means; NS = Not significantly different (
P
>0.05)