Abstract:
This study was conducted to find substitutes for dietary maize in rabbit rations, to
minimize competition between humans and livestock over the commodity. Mango seed
kernel meal (MSKM) was used to substitute up to 20% of maize in rabbit rations, to
assess its effects on growth, carcass and meat characteristics. Fresh mango seeds were
obtained, husks were removed and seeds soaked in fresh potable water for 48 hours. The
seeds were then dried to a moisture content of about 15 %, and then milled for use. Three
experimental diets were formulated, where T1 (control, had no MSKM), T2 (10% of
maize was replaced with MSKM) and T3 (20% of maize was replaced with MSKM). A
total of 48 six-week-old rabbits of indeterminate breeds (24 males and 24 females) were
assigned to the three dietary treatments (16 rabbits per treatment), and were fed adlibitum for 6 weeks, to determine feed intake and growth rates of the rabbits. Water was
however provided ad-libitum. At the end of the feeding trial, 24 rabbits were randomly
selected (8 from each treatment, equal number of males and females) and were
slaughtered humanely after a 12-hour feed withdrawal, for carcass and proximate
analyses of the meat. Results from the study indicate that, feed intake and growth rates
of the animals reduced significantly (p<0.05) when dietary maize replacement with
MSKM increased beyond 10% inclusions. However, crude protein, phosphorus,
potassium and zinc contents of the meat increased significantly (p<0.05) as MSKM
inclusions increased. That notwithstanding, carcass parameters and organ weights were
not affected by substituting up to 20% of maize with MSKM (p>0.05). It can be
concluded that MSKM can efficiently be used to substitute up to 20% of maize in rabbit
rations, for reduced feed cost, improved crude protein, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc
contents of the meat
