A note on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of rabbits fed graded dietary levels of boiled pigeon pea seed (Cajanus cajan)

 K U Amaefule, F C Iheukwumere* and C C Nwaokoro

College of Animal Science and Animal Health, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
PMB 7267 Umuahia, Abia State, NIGERIA
amakelvin@yahoo.com
*Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, ABSU, Umuahia Campus.

Abstract

Twenty-four 8-week old rabbits of average initial weight of 900 g were used to determine the performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics of rabbits fed graded dietary levels of boiled pigeon pea seed (Cajanus cajan) meal (PSM) diets. The experiment was in a completely randomized design (CRD) with 4 treatment diets. Treatments 1 (control), 2, 3 and 4 diets contained 0, 10, 20, and 30% boiled PSM, respectively replacing part of maize and soybean meal.

There were no significant differences among the treatment diets in all the performance parameters measured.  There were no significant difference among the treatments in all carcass and organ characteristics measured.

It is concluded that boiled PSM could replace 20 and 43.9% of maize and soybean meal, respectively in rabbit diets constituting up to 20% of the whole ration.

Keywords: nutrient digestibility, performance, pigeon pea, rabbits.

Introduction

Rabbits have been recognized to have a very important role to play in the supply of animal protein to Nigerians especially in the rural and peri-urban areas. They are efficient converters of feed to meat and can utilize up to 30% crude fibre as against 10% by most poultry species (Egbo et al 2001). To make rabbit rearing more viable as a small-scale business, Alawa et al (1990) have advocated the development of alternative feeding materials that will be relatively cheap when compared with commercial feeds or conventional feedstuffs. Rabbits have the potential of utilizing such unconventional feedstuffs as pigeon pea seeds and other diverse plant materials (Igwebuike et al 2001).

Various studies have been conducted to determine the replacement value of pigeon pea seeds for groundnut cake in broiler finisher diets (Amaefule and Obioha 1998), the processing methods of the seeds for broilers (Amaefule and Onwudike 2000; Amaefule and Obioha 2001) and the performance of layers fed raw pigeon pea seed meal (Udedibie and Igwe 1989; Tangtaweewipat and Elliott 1989; Agwunobi 2000).

Like most legume seeds, pigeon pea seeds contain anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) which limit the use of the seeds in monogastric animal feeding (Ologhobo 1992; D'Mello 1995). D'Mello (1995) identified proteinase inhibitors and cyanogens as the ANFs in the seeds while Batterham et al (1993) reported a proteinase inhibitor activity in pigeon pea seeds to be 4.8 mg g^-1 and 2.7 mg g^-1 seed for trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitors, respectively.

Due to limited scientific information and data on the feeding of pigeon pea seeds to rabbits, this study was aimed at determining the performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics of rabbits fed graded dietary levels of boiled pigeon pea seed (Cajanus cajan) meal diets.

Materials and methods

Animals and housing

The study was conducted with twenty-four 8-week old hybrid (New Zealand white x Chinchilla) rabbits that had initial live weight ranging from 867 to 925 g (average 900 g). They were of both sexes and randomly assigned to 4 treatment diets in a completely randomized design (CRD). Each treatment was replicated 3 times with each replicate having 2 (male and female) rabbits.

The rabbits were housed in a 3-tier rabbit cage, which had a total of 15 hutches at 5 hutches per tier. The cage was located inside a building equipped with vents and windows for ventilation. Each hutch (100 cm x 40 cm x 40 cm), which accommodated the 2 rabbits, was partitioned with a wooden board and wire mesh and fitted with aluminum drinkers, feeders (15 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm) and an aluminum tray for collection of faeces.

Diets

Raw pigeon pea seeds were put into boiling water, boiled for 30 minutes and removed from the boiling water with a big perforated aluminum spoon. The seeds were sun-dried and milled for use in compounding the experimental diets (Table 1). Treatment PSMB0 (control) was based on maize and soybean meal, while treatments PSMB10, PSMB20 and PSMB30 contained 10, 20 and 30% boiled PSM,  that partially replaced maize and soybean meal in the diets. The rabbits were fed equal quantities (150 g/day) of fresh Centrocema pubscens as forage supplement to the diets during the period of the study.

Data Collection

The study lasted for 8 weeks (56 days) during which the rabbits were fed the experimental diets ad libitum.  Known quantities were offered twice daily (8.00 - 8.30 am) and (2.00 - 3.00 pm). Uneaten feed was recorded. The rabbits were weighed at the start of the experiment and subsequently on a weekly basis. Parameters measured were weight gain and feed intake. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated as feed: gain ratio and protein efficiency ratio (PER) as weight gain divided by protein intake. 

Carcass and Organ Evaluation

One rabbit from each replicate was selected, weighed, starved overnight to clear the gut and stunned. The rabbit was sacrificed by cutting the jugular vein with a sharp knife. The tail close to the base was first removed, and then the head, feet and pelt. During evisceration, the internal organs and other gut contents were  removed and weighed. Then the dressed carcass was weighed and expressed as percentage of the live weight. The organ weights were expressed as percentage of the dressed weight.

Chemical and Data Analyses

Experimental diets were analyzed for proximate composition using the methods of AOAC (1990). All data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) for a CRD. Differences between the treatment means were separated using Duncan's New Multiple Range Test (Duncan 1955). All statistical procedures were according to methods of Steel and Torrie (1980).

Results and Discussion

There were no differences (P>0.05) among the treatments in all the growth and performance parameters considered (Table 2). The daily weight gain recorded in this study is an improvement over that obtained with raw seeds (Amaefule et al 2004), which could be attributed to elimination of anti-nutritional substances from the seeds by boiling in water. 

Dressed carcass and organ weights of rabbits fed the diets did not show any significant difference among treatments (Table 3).

The lack of abnormalities or gross pathologic lesions in the livers indicated that boiling was effective in the removal of anti-nutritional substances from the pigeon pea seeds.

Conclusion

Boiled PSM could replace 20 and 43.9% maize and soybean meal, respectively in the diet of weaner rabbits, constituting up to 20% of the whole ration.

Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to International Foundation for Science (IFS) Sweden and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike for the funds and facilities used in conducting this study. We equally acknowledge the assistance of workers in the Rabbit Unit of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike Teaching and Research Farm.

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