Animal Science Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru Zaria, Nigeria
Onimisi, P.A., Animal Science Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru Zaria, Nigeria; Omage, J.J., Animal Science Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru Zaria, Nigeria
Twenty five eight weeks old growing rabbits of mixed breeds and sexes were used to evaluate the nutritive value of poultry litter (PL) by a graded level substitution of maize and soyabeans in the diet. There were five dietary treatments with five rabbits per treatment housed individually in cages in complete randomization. The treatment diets contained 0, 8, 16, 24, and 32% level of PL respectively. The rabbits were fed the treatment diets for the 8 weeks period of the experiment. Average daily weight gain and feed to gain ratio were not statistically different among the dietary treatments. It may be concluded from the results of this experiment that poultry litter could replace up to 32% of maize - soyabeans in rabbit diets without detrimental effects on growth performance.