The Effects of Drumstick Tree (Moringa oleifera) Leaf Meal on the Average Weight Gain of Domestic Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Article Sidebar

PDF
Published: May 4, 2013
Keywords:
Moringa oleifera, weaner Oryctolagus cuniculus, weight, and leaf meal

Main Article Content

A. N Ufele
C. I. Ebenebe
I. I Igwe
T. C. Mogbo
E. C. Akunne
B. O. Aziagba

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Moringa oleifera leaf meal on the weight gain of weaner rabbits. Three diets were formulated; Diet one (T1) which contained neither soya bean meal nor Moringa leaf meal served as the control diet. Diet two (T2) contained soya bean meal without Moringa leaf meal, while diet three (T3) contained Moringa leaf meal without soya bean meal. Thirty-six rabbits of 40 days old were used for the study with each treatment cage containing four rabbits of average weight of 480g per rabbit. There was significant difference (P<0.05) among all the treatments in average weight gain (256.25g, 365.00g and 483.75g) respectively. T3 had the highest percentage (81.48%) followed by T2 (78.95%) with the least being T1 (52.69%). No mortality was recorded during the experimental period. The study revealed that diet three, T3 (20% Moringa oleifera leaf meal) is rich in nutrients. It also showed that the Moringa oleifera leaf meal could be used as total replacement for soybean meal in rabbit diet without any adverse effect on the weight gained. It also showed that rabbits cannot perform well when fed only millet mash residue without supplemental protein source.

Article Details

How to Cite
Ufele, A. N., Ebenebe, C. I., Igwe, I. I., Mogbo, T. C., Akunne, E. C., & Aziagba, B. O. (2013). The Effects of Drumstick Tree (Moringa oleifera) Leaf Meal on the Average Weight Gain of Domestic Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) . The Bioscientist Journal, 1(1), 106-108. Retrieved from https://bioscientistjournal.com/index.php/The_Bioscientist/article/view/24
Issue
Vol 1 No 1 (2013): The Bioscientist Journal
Section
Articles
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

Bamikole, M. A., Ikhatua, M. I., Ikhatua, U.J. and Ezenwa, I. V. (2005). Nutritive value of mulberry (Moru spp) leaves in growing rabbits in Nigeria. Pakistan Journal of
Nutrition, 4(4): 231 – 236.

Booth, F. E. M. and Wickens, G. E. (1988). Non-timber uses of selected arid zone trees and shrubs in Africa.
FAO Conservation Guide, Rome, pp. 92 – 101.

Duke, A.J. (1998). Moringaleae. Handbook of energy crops.
Available:Http://www/hort.purdue/e du./newcrop/duke- energy/moringa.
htm. accessed on 04/05/2008

Gueye, E. F. & Branckaert, R. D. S. (2002).
F. A. O’s programme for support to family poultry production.
Proceedings of workshop in poultry as a tool in poverty eradication and promotion of gender equality. Animal production and Health Division, F.A.O. Rome, Italy, pp.
177-178.

McDonald, P., Edwards, R. A. and
Greenhalgh. J. F. D. (1988). Animal Nutrition. 4th edition John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York, U.S.A., pp.
398 – 418.

Odunsi, A. A. (2003). Assessment of Lablab (Lablab purpureus) leaf meal as
feed ingredient and yolk colour

Sarwatt, S. V., Kapange, S. S. & Kakengi, M. M. (2002). Substituting sunflower seed cake with Moringa oleifera leaves as supplemental goat feed in Tanzania. Agro-forestry systems, 56: 241 – 247.

Steel, R. G. D. and Torrie, J. H. (1990). Principles and procedures of statistics.
McGraw-Hill, New York, 451 pp.