Tegbe T.S.B., Adeyinka I.A., Baye K.D., Alawa J.P.
Department of Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria
Tegbe, T.S.B., National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria; Adeyinka, I.A., National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria; Baye, K.D., Department of Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Alawa, J.P., Department of Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
Twenty weaner rabbits of average initial weight of 535g were fed four diets containing milled Ficus thonningii leaf meal at 0% 5% 10% and 15% levels to evaluate its effect on their growth performance and carcass characteristics. Rabbits were randomly allotted to cages and four dietary treatments randomly allotted to cages. There were five replications of the four treatments in a randomized block design trial. The study lasted eleven weeks. Dietary treatments did not significantly (P>0.05) affect average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain, carcass and organ characteristics. However, feed to gain ratio was significantly (P<0.05) affected by level of feeding Ficus thonningii. It was concluded that Ficus thonningii leaf meal could be fed up to 15% level in rabbit diet. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2006.