Effects of Fermented Locust Bean Seed (Pakia clapatoniana) As a Replacement for Full Fat Soybean Meal on the Performance and Haemathological Parameters of Weaner Rabbits

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted with twenty four (24) unsexed weaner rabbits, with mean initial weight of 776g for eight weeks, to evaluate the effect of replacing full fat soybean with fermented locust bean seed at 0%, 25%, 50% and75% levels of inclusion (for control, T_2, T₃ and T₄, respectively). The animals were distributed into four treatment groups of six rabbits each, sub-divided into three replicates of two animals each, in a completely randomized design. Each treatment group received 120g of Tridaxprocumbensand one of the experimental diets. Feed intake, water intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio, as well as some hematological parameters were determined. Feed conversion ratio, RBC, Hb and PCV were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by treatments. However, average final weight, average weight gain, average feed and water intake, WBC and TP all showed significant (P<0.05) treatment effects. Results of the experiment suggests that dietary inclusion of  fermented locust bean in the diets of weaner rabbits should not exceed 25%, as performance of experimental animals were adversely affected above this level.

Key word: Fermented Locust Bean Seed, Feed Intake, Haemathology.