Asian Journal of Research in Animal and Veterinary Sciences

A twelve week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of air-dried mucuna (Mucuna pruriens) leaf meal (MLM) in the diets of grower rabbit bucks. Mucuna leaf meal was included at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% for T₁, T₂, T₃, T₄ and T₅ respectively. Thirty grower rabbits bucks were assigned to five experimental dietary treatments denoted T₁, T₂, T₃, T₄ and T₅ respectively in a completely Randomized Design (CRD). Each treatment had six rabbits with each serving as a replicate. Results of performance showed that there were no significant differences in final body weight, daily weight gain, daily feed and protein intake. Protein efficiency ratio and feed conversion ratio were significantly higher at T₁. Nutrient digestibility by rabbit indicates significant different (p<0.05) in ether extract (EE), crude fibre (CF), and crude protein (CP). EE and CF were significantly higher at T₄, and CP was highest at T₁. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in NFE across the treatments. There was also no significant difference (P>0.05) for cost per kg gain. Cost of feed consumed, total cost and percentage feed cost were significantly higher (P<0.05) at T₁, T₂, and T₃. Percentage drug cost was significantly better (P<0.05) at T₄ and T₅, percentage cage cost and animal were statistically depressed (P<0.05) at T₁, T₂ and T₃ and highest at T₅. It was concluded that mucuna (Mucuna pruriens) leaf meal has potentials as a valuable unconventional leguminous feedstuff. The use of Mucuna pruriens leaf meal in the diets of rabbit bucks promoted growth best at 5% and thus carcass yield. Rabbit farmer can incorporate Mucuna pruriens leaf meal at 5% for growth performance.