Effect of Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis) Fruit Waste (SOFW) with Acidomix®AFG on the Coliform Count in the Small Intestine of Weaner Rabbits
L. A. Ademu *
Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria
R. J. Wafar
Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria
L. O. Ademu
Department of Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) fruit waste (SOFW) with Acidomix®AFG on the coliform count in the small intestine of weaner rabbits. It was conducted using thirty-five weaner rabbits. There were four dietary treatments, each having five replicates consisting of graded levels of SOFW at 0, 10, 15, and 20% respectively treated with Acidomix®AFG at two levels (0.5% and 0.7%) for each dietary treatment containing SOFW. The main effect of the experimental diets was significant (P<0.05) with a decrease in coliform bacteria in the intestine of the rabbits observed with increasing levels of SOFW for total coliform and lactose fermenting bacteria. Effect of Acidomix®AFG levels was significant (P<0.05) with levels of 0.7% having lower (P<0.05) counts for total coliform, lactose fermenting bacteria and non-lactose fermenting bacteria. The interaction effect between orange and acidomix levels was also significant (P<0.05) with rabbits fed 20% SOFW having the lowest coliform counts for total coliform and lactose fermenting bacteria at both levels of acidomix®AFG. It was concluded that the inclusion of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) fruit waste (SOFW) with Acidomix®AFG has an effect on the coliform count in the small intestine of weaner rabbits.
Keywords: Sweet orange, coliform, small intestine, bacteria, acicifiers