Evaluation of Rice Offal Meal Improved by Rumen Filtrate Fermentation on the Performance and Economics of Producing Table Rabbits

In an effort to expand the knowledge base on the use of non conventional feedstuff in rabbit nutrition, the nutritional potential and the cost effectiveness of using rice offal fermented with rumen filtrate for 48 hours was investigated using twenty five (25) growing crossbred rabbit bucks weighed between 625.34 g-631.21 g for 10 weeks. The rabbits were divided into five (5) treatment groups of five (5) rabbits each with each rabbit serving as a replicate in a completely randomized design experiment. The control group was fed with a diet containing maize as the main energy source while the remaining four groups were fed with diets in which the maize was replaced with 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% Rumen filtrate fermented-rice offal meals respectively. Final weight was similar (P>0.05) in rabbits fed maize-based control diet and those fed diet containing 5% to 20% Rumen Filtrate Fermented Rice Offal Meals (FRO). The experimental diets had significant (P<0.05) effect on the daily feed intake, and daily body weight gain with rabbits on 20% having superior weights of 93.88 g and 20.54 g respectively, and a better feed conversion ratio of 4.57 g. The cost of feed per kg of weight gain was lowered progressively from N446/kg for the control diet to N307/kg for the 20% FRO diet, where the lowest feed cost was observed, with a concomitant improvement in overall production profitability. It was concluded that fermenting rice offal with rumen filtrate had high potential as a possible replacement for maize in rabbit diet at inclusion levels of up to 20%. The use of this agricultural by-product can reduce the cost of rabbit production, increase the availability of cheaper animal protein for the populace, generate higher profit margins for the livestock farmer and reduce environmental pollution. It was therefore recommended that feed manufacturers and rabbit farmers can incorporate up to 20% of bovine rumen filtrate-fermented rice offal meal in the diets of rabbits without compromising performance.