Growth response, nutrient digestibility and carcass analysis of weaned rabbit fed graded levels of toasted sunflower ( Helianthus annus ) based diets

Graded levels of toasted Sunflower seed meal on growth response, nutrient digestibility and carcass yield of six weeks old weaned rabbits were investigated for 56 days with thirty-six (36) unsexed mixed breed rabbits of average weight 0.50kg. The rabbits were randomly assigned to four treatments with nine (9) rabbits per treatment and replicated thrice in a Completely Randomized Design. Four diets were formulated containing TSSM at 0%, 25%, 50% and 75% as Diet 1(control), 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Parameters measured include feed intake, growth rate, feed conversion ratio and nutrient digestibility while a rabbit/ replicate were selected and severe for carcass evaluation. Results obtained showed no significant (P>0.05) difference in all growth parameters measured. Nutrient Digestibility of diet showed significant (P<0.05) differences in crude protein, ash content and nitrogen free extract across the dietary treatments. The crude protein (59.62-86.91%), ash (36.76-73.87%), nitrogen free extract (81.48-96.18%) values obtained ranged significantly across the dietary treatments with rabbits on D3 recording the highest values. Carcass and organ weight showed significant (P<0.05) difference in skin, liver, heart and lungs among all parameters evaluated. Conclusively, inclusions of TSSM at 50% in rabbit’s diet presented a better result on growth, digestibility and carcass yield. Keywords: Sunflower seed meal, Weaner rabbit, Digestibility, Performance, Muscle cuts