INFLUENCE OF GRADED LEVELS OF TOASTED BAMBARA GROUNDNUT MEAL ON RABBIT CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS

The effect of feeding graded levels of toasted banban ground out meal on rabbit weaners was investigated. A total of fifty white rabbit weaners of 6 - 8 weeks with an average weight of 366,7 gwere fed the graded level of tested bambara nut meal at 0. 5, 15, 25 or 35% inclusion level in a complete randomized design experiment for a period of six week. The final live weight, daily feed intake were not influcticed (P>0.05) by the level of bambara nut meal in the diet. However, positive influence of the graded level of bambara nut meal was observed on the rabbit daily weight gain, feed efficiency dressed carcass, dressing percentage and ment: bone ratjo. Rabbits on the 25 and 15% bambara nut inclusion levels were found to have similar (P>0.05) daily weight gain and dressing percentage with the control ration. Rabbit on the 5% bambara nut level diet had the least feed efficiency (0.22) and meat: bone ratio (3.6), while the dressed weights of rabbit fed the diet containing 25% bambara nut meal had the highest dressed carcass weight (501.6g). Rabbits' carcass cut-up parts as well as internal organs (liver, heart, kidneys and lungs) were not influenced by the dietary levels of bambara nut meal. But the pelt weight, empty gut weight, lipid and moisture contents were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the levels of bambara nut meal in the diet.