Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Weaned Rabbit Fed Alchornea Cordieolia Leal Meal

Thirty six (36) weaned rabbits between the ages of 4-6 weeks were fed graded levels of Alchornea cordifolia leaf meal (ACLM) at different inclusion levels in the diet with the aim of evaluating the effect of ACLM on growth performance and carcass characteristics of rabbits. Animal were assigned to the test diets using a completely randomized block design (CRBD). Nine (9) rabbits were randomly allotted to each dietary treatment T1 T2 T3 T4 (diet formulated contain 0%, 5%, 10% and 15%) respectively with three (3) rabbits serving as a replicate after balancing for body weight. All conventional management practices were followed. The experiment lasted for eight (8) weeks. Parameters measured for growth performance are; final body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, total weight gain and for carcass characteristics are; live weight, dressed weight, dressed percent relative weight of major cut (head, neck, shoulder, rack, back cut loin and thigh). The result obtained from this study showed that growth performance of rabbits fed ACLM showed no significance difference (P>0.05). The results of carcass characteristics of rabbits fed ACLM showed Significant differences (P<0.05) in the mean live weight, dressed weight, dressed percent, neck, shoulder and loin. The highest value for live weight, dressed weight, dressed percent, shoulder and neck are observed in T1 (0% ACLM). The study concluded that inclusion level of 5-10% of ACLM is good for optimum performance.