Effects of Boiled Baobab (Adansonia Digitata) Seed Meal on Nutrient Digestibility, Feed Cost, and Growth Performances in Male Rabbits
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65482/jasab222026391-11.xKeywords:
Adansonia digitata, , Baobab seed meal, Carcass yield, Digestibility, Growth Performance, RabbitsAbstract
This study evaluated the nutrient digestibility, feed cost, and growth performances in rabbits fed graded levels of boiled baobab (Adansonia digitata) seed meal (BBSM). Thirty male rabbits (Dutch and New Zealand White breeds, 15 per breed) aged 6–8 weeks were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments, each replicated thrice in a completely randomized design. Boiled baobab seed meal replaced soybean meal at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% in T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5, respectively. Proximate analysis of BBSM was performed prior to the feeding trial, which lasted eight weeks. Results revealed that BBSM has 23.00% CP, 10.80% CF, 5.10% EE, and 3,259.20 kcal/kg ME. Trypsin inhibitor activity was completely eliminated following 45 minutes of boiling. At the end of the feeding trial, body weight and weight gain showed no significant difference (P>0.05) across treatments, while total and average daily feed intake were significantly (P<0.05) affected. Rabbits fed 5% BBSM recorded the highest body weight (2,566.67 g) and daily feed intake (123.31 g). Feed conversion ratio was not significantly different (P > 0.05) among groups. Carcass yield was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T2 compared with other treatments. All nutrient digestibility parameters were significantly affected (P<0.05), with 10% BBSM recording the highest dry matter (72.89%) and crude protein (72.33%) digestibilities. Feed cost per kilogram of diet decreased progressively from ₦615.38 at 0% to ₦392.31 at 20% inclusion. It is concluded that BBSM reduced feed cost and can replace soybean meal at up to 20% without adverse effects on growth performances.
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