Growth Performance and Haematological Characteristics of Growing Rabbits Fed Concentrates and Forage

Food security is a widely debated development issue and yet remains a global challenge, as food insecurity becomes acute especially among vulnerable groups (marginal population, dependent population and victims of conflict) of the world (1; 2). Nigeria like many other developing countries of the world has a protein deficiency gap, especially that of quality animal protein (3). (4), also stated that reduction in the availability of animal protein due to poverty, overall economic slump, and low production of indigenous breeds of animals are some of the reasons for this insufficient intake of animal proteins. This low protein intake has remained a major nutritional problem, especially for the low income and non-wage earners (5). Proteins are among the most important nutrients inhuman diets, and an adequate protein supply is a prerequisite for normal growth and development of all organs in the body (6).

Inadequate supply of protein from the traditional livestock-cattle, sheep goat and chickens has led to the intensification of efforts to improve on productivity of these animals and to maximize food production and meet protein requirements in Nigeria, viable options need to be explored and evaluated (6). Studies show that the most viable option to bridge the protein malnutrition between the resource-poor world people and the resource-rich citizens is the utilization of short gestation unconventional livestock, especially monogastric animals (Rabbits and Pigs), of which rabbit is the most favoured (7). Hence, rabbits have been thought of as being suitable in this regard.

The preference of rabbit to other animals could be allied to intrinsic qualities of the animal which include: short gestation period, ease of management and, its highly prolific ability. Its practice of caecotrophy enhances its performance, relatively low cost of production compared to other monogastric animals, high rate of reproduction, early maturity, small body size, rapid growth rate comparable to that of broiler chicken (8; 9), high genetic selection potential, efficient feed and land space utilization. Other qualities include ability to thrive on green forage, food wastes and agricultural by-products, potential income generation and limited competition with humans for similar food (9).

Rabbit meat has high nutritional value with high protein (56%), low fat (9%), low in cholesterol, sodium and calories (8%) and contain 28% phosphorus, 13% iron, 16% zinc, 14% riboflavin, 6% thiamine, 35% B12 and 48% niacin – making it ideal meat for hypertensive patients. Also, rabbitry requires comparatively low level of capital set – up, requiring little space and it is well-adapted to domestic rearing (7). Rabbits are maintained primarily on forages or concentrates alone, optimal productivity cannot be achieved (10).

Some of the conventional forages used for feeding rabbits include Panicum maximum, Purearia phaseloides, Centrosema pubescens, Mucuna cochinchinensis and Sida acuta (11). Increased feed and nutrient levels have been advocated for breeding rabbits as a means of increasing litter size, adequate pregnancy maintenance and milk production by the does (12). However, the farmers are generally confronted with problems of high cost of concentrates, relatively smaller weight gain during the dry season, non-readily available market when the farmers are ready to sell their stock and inadequate knowledge and information about the advantages of eating rabbit meat (9). But to enhance rabbit production and productivity requires that resources are efficiently used with attention paid on profit maximization at minimum cost (13) and profit efficiency will lead to greater benefits to livestock producers in the country (14), (15) and (16) reported that Panicum maximum has dry matter (DM) content of 68.43-77.64 , CPranged of 13.78, crude fibre 18.50 , NFE of 41.10 , ether extract of 6.00 and ash content of 19.80. Also works of (17) reported that the nutritive composition of Gynura aurantiaca contains 2.1 % crude protein, 0.6% crude fat, 1.4% ash, and 4.8% carbohydrate. They also buttressed that Gynura aurantiaca has an average nutrient concentration (in g/100 g of DM) of 2.08 for potassium (K), 0.31 for phosphorus (P), 0.61 for magnesium (Mg) and 6.59 for manganese (Mn). This suggests that Panicum maximum and Gynura aurantiaca could be harnessed efficiently in ruminant feeding.