Browsing by Author "Mohamed, F.S."

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    Effect of tropical forages on growth performance and carcass quality of rabbits
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2015) Mohamed, F.S.; Abeyrathne, E.D.N.S.
    Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a small mono-gastric animal which has a very small body size and an efficient reproductive ability. Backyard rabbit keeping supplies additional protein with low investment and labor inputs. Rabbit meat has many nutritional benefits which include high protein, low cholesterol and high palatability (Samkol and Lukefahr, 2008).The major problem with rabbit production is high feeding cost (Lebas et al., 1997). Feeding cost for rabbits account more than 75% of total cost of production. At present there is a competition for protein sources between man and animals (Jiya et al., 2011). Rabbits are herbivores and can be successfully raised on diets with low in grains and high in roughage. Therefore tropical legumes can be used as an alternative for fed rabbits. The objective of this study was to determine the growth performance, carcass quality of weaner rabbits with diet containing forage supplements and commercial layer pellet. Methodology The experiment was carried out at Uva Wellassa University, Badulla. Sixteen (16) weaned cross bred rabbits, mixed sexes were used for the feeding trial which conducted for 45-days. All rabbits selected which were born on same day,a few from same litter. Rabbits were grouped according to Complete Randomized Block Design (CRBD) with four replicates, 2 males and 2 females for each diet group. Ration for all the diets were formulated according to the nutritional requirement of grower rabbit. Maximum inclusion levels for the selected leaves also considered. All animals were kept for an adaptation period during the adaptation period rabbits were fed with only the control diet (Prima layer pellet) with fresh guinea grass (Panicum maximum). The experimental diet was introduced gradually for 8 days. Water was supplied ad-libitum for each rabbit. Guinea grass (Panicum maximum), Erythrina leaves (Erythrina indica), Cassava leaves (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and Leucaena leaves (Leucaena leucocephala) were harvested from the surrounding environment of the university premises. Guinea grass was harvested one week before feeding to the animals and hay was made by keeping under sun. Erythrina leaves, Cassava leaves and Leucaena leaves were harvested three to four days before feeding rabbits. Those harvested leaves were chopped and wilted until constant weight was gained. Wilted leaves and dried grass were stored under dry condition. Diet 1 = Only layer pellet 100% (control), Diet 2 = Layer pellet 70%, Erythrina indica 20%, Panicum maximum 10%, Diet 3 = Layer pellet 65%, Manihot esculenta Crantz 20%, Panicum maximum 15% and Diet 4 = Layer pellet 92%, Leucaena leucocephala 7%, Panicum maximum 1%. Data were collected on body weight and weight gains, feed intake and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR). Two rabbits (one male and one female) from each group were slaughtered for carcass quality evaluation. After 45 days of feeding trial two rabbits (one male and one female) from each treatment group was slaughtered. Hot carcass weight, pH, Length of carcass, dressing percentage was evaluated under carcass quality parameters. Chemical composition of carcasses was analyzed for proximate constituents according to AOAC, 2002 method. Sensory evaluation of boiled meat samples were evaluated using 15 semi trained panelists. Collected data was analyzed using Analysis of variance (one way ANOVA and two way ANOVA) - Minitab 16 statistical software package. Analysis of variance fallowed by a mean separation procedure using Tukey’s test. Sensory analysis was done by using non parametric analysis of Friedman test.
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    Effect of Tropical Forages on Growth Performance and Carcass Quality of Rabbits
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2014) Mohamed, F.S.
    Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a small mono-gastric, herbivorous animal. Rabbit production represents the fastest way to overcome the shortage of animal protein consumption by human populations. Rabbit has a fast efficiency of nutrient transformation and high reproduction efficiency. High feeding cost is the major constraint in rabbit farming. A feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of tropical forages on growth performance and carcass quality of rabbits. Sixteen weaner rabbits were involved in the experiment. Diet 1 = Only layer pellet 100% (control), Diet 2 = Layer pellet 70%, Erythrina indica 20%, Panicum maximum 10%, Diet 3 = Layer pellet 65%, Manihot esculenta Crantz 20%, Panicum maximum 15% and Diet 4 = Layer pellet 92%, Leucaena leucocephala 7%, Panicum maximum 1%. The feeding trial lasted for forty-five days during which data on body weight and weight gains, feed intake and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) were collected. Two rabbits (one male and one female) from each group were slaughtered for carcass quality evaluation. Dietary treatments produced significant (p<0.05) effects on feed consumption, body weights and weight gains, FCR. Rabbits fed concentrate diets with Leucaena leucocephala had the best feed conversion ratio, highest body weight gain than the other treatments. It had the best dressing percentage too. Sensory results showed that Erythrina indica incorporated diet fed rabbits meat was much preferred than others. There was a less variation between proximate compositions of rabbit meat regarding four diets. Key words: rabbit, feeding trial, diet, carcass quality