Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of graded levels of Morning glory (Ipomoea asarifolia) leaf meal in the diets of growing rabbits on growth performance, nutrients retention, and carcass characteristics. Four experimental diets were formulated, with inclusion levels of 0, 5, 10 and 15 g/kg ofIpomoea asarifolia leaf meals as T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. Forty male rabbits used for the experiment were allotted to four treatments groups (1, 2, 3, and 4) with two rabbits per replicate in a completely randomized design. The rabbits were fed with the respective diets for 56 days. Parameters such as fed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and mortality rate where monitored. The data generated where subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Where significant difference (P<0.05) exists, least significant difference (LSD) was used to compare between the treatment means. The results indicated that growth performance of the animals was not significantly different across the treatments, except for final weight and feed conversion ratio. The effects of diet on carcass characteristic indices showed thatIpomoea asarifolia inclusion had no negative effect on the carcass yield. All other parameters differed significantly with exception of stomach, small and large intestine (p>0.05). Except for kidney, lungs, stomach, heart, small and large intestine, carcass characteristics differed (p<0.05) for rabbits across the treatment groups It was concluded that the inclusion ofIpomoea asarifolia beyond 5 g/kg in diets of rabbit significantly (P<0.05) reduced performance.