Effects of Feeding Graded Levels of Brewers Dried Grains with or without Probiotics Supplementation in Replacing Groundnut Cake in The Diet of Weaner Rabbits

Abstract

A total of Fifty four (54) weaner rabbits (Oryctalogus cunniculus) of similar body weight and age were used in this experiment to determine the effects of replacing Brewers dried grains (BDG) for Groundnut Cake (GNC) with or without probiotics supplementation. A 3x3 factorial experiment was adopted such that there were (3) replacement levels (0, 30 and 60%) of BDG for GNC by three supplement levels (no supplement, probiotics A and probiotics B which lasted for a period of eight (8) weeks.The result showed that increase in the inclusion level of BDG had significant effect (P<0.05) on the feed intake and feed to gain ratio, but had no effect (P>0.05) on the rate of weight gain. The Nitrogen intake and Nitrogen digested showed significant effect (P<0.05) as the level of BDG was increased but had no effect (P>0.05) on the faecal Nitrogen and Nitrogen Digestibility. The Cost of feed per kg, cost of rearing, selling price showed no significant effect (P>0.05) on the level of inclusion of BDG while the gross profitability and feed cost efficiency showed significant effect (P<0.05) on the inclusion of BDG. There was a significant effect (P<0.05) of the supplementation of the feed intake and feed to gain ratio but no significant effect (P>0.05) of the supplementation was observed on the rate of weight gain, Supplementation had significant effect (P<0.05) on Nitrogen intake and Nitrogen digested but had no significant effect (P>0.05) on the faecal Nitrogen and Nitrogen digestibility. Supplementation had significant effect (P<0.05) on the Gross profitablility and cost efficiency but had no significant effect (P>0.05) on the cost of feed, cost of rearing, selling price. Weaner Rabbit fed probiotics B significantly preformed better than weaner Rabbits fed probiotics A. Taking feed intake, feed to gain ratio, nitrogen intake and nitrogen digested as consideration for the performance of the rabbits, it is recommended that 30% inclusion of BDG supplemented with probiotics A is the best replacement level of GNC. Probiotics A had a better feed to gain ratio and nitrogen digestibility than probiotics B.

Key words: BDG, probiotics, Rabbit, growth performance, nitrogen digestibility, cost  of feed.