Performance of Weaner Rabbits under Prevailing Feeding Systems in Kiambu County, Kenya
Authors
-
Department of Animal Production, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O Box 29053 - 00625 Nairobi ,KE
Abraham Kipchumba Cherwon -
Department of Animal Production, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O Box 29053 - 00625 Nairobi ,KECharles Karuku Gachuiri
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21048/IJND.2022.59.2.29040Keywords:
Feed intake, live weight gain, profitability, nutrients, growth rateAbstract
Despite the recent upsurge of interest in rabbit farming in Kenya, there is inadequate information on both on-farm performance and cost of production which are important in determining the profitability of the enterprise. This study assessed these 2 parameters in 6 rabbit farms in Kiambu County. In each farm, 40 weaners were monitored to determine their feed intake, weight gain, the time to reach 2 kg body weight and the cost per weight gain. The type, quantity, quality and cost of feeds offered was monitored. The key determinant of the type of feed offered to rabbits was availability rather than quality. None of the offered feeds singly provided all the required nutrients in the amount for growing rabbits. Forages on offer were low in Crude Protein (CP) content (average, 12.6% vs. recommended 16-17%) while commercial concentrates were low in fibre content (average, 9.2% vs. recommended, 15-16%). On average, a weaner attained 2 kg body weight at 18 (range, 16-19) weeks after consuming 6.6 (range, 5.5-8.1) kg DM, 874.9±163.6 (range, 761-962.2) g of CP and 14723±1868.7 (range, 11535-17643) Kcal of digestible energy with a feed conversion ratio of 6.3±0.7 (range, 5.6-7). Feed cost per unit weight gain averaged KES 164.5 (range, 135.3 -234.4) while the production cost per kg weight gain was KES 280.2. The study concluded that rabbits at the farm level received inadequate energy and protein leading to slow growth rates, delayed attainment of target weight and a high cost of production making the enterprise unprofitable. There is need to evaluate feeding of rabbits with an aim to providing balanced diets to gain body weight and to optimize performance and consequently improved profitability.
Downloads
Metrics
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
All the articles published in IJND are distributed under a creative commons license. The journal allows the author(s) to hold the copyright of their work (all usages allowed except for commercial purpose).
Please contact us at editor@informaticsglobal.com for permissions related to commercial use of the article(s).
Accepted 2022-03-02
Published 2022-05-11
References
Borter, D.K. and Mwanza, R.N. Rabbit production in Kenya, current status and way forward. In Proceedings of Annual Scientific Symposium of the Animal Production Society of Kenya. Driving Livestock Entrepreneurship towards attainment of Food sufficiency and Kenya Vision, 2011, 2030, 13-19.
Mutsami, C. and Karl, S. Commercial rabbit farming and poverty in urban and peri-urban Kenya. Fronti. Veter. Sci., 2020, 7, 353. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00353
Chah, J.M., Uddin, I.O., Nnodim, W.E. and Ezeibe, A.B. Housing and feed management Practices among Rabbit keepers in Enugu State, Nigeria. Int. J. Agricul. Forest., 2017, 7, 81-87.
Kale, P.C., Kitilit, J.K., Kebeney, S.J., Motanya, W., Muasya, R., Gohole, L., Ochuodho, J., Jepkemboi, C., Marilda, M., Maciel, C. and Ongeng, D. Rabbit production practices among smallholder famers in Kenya. In Fifth African Higher Education Week and RUFORUM Biennial Conference, Cape Town, South Africa 2016, 803-809.
Serem, J. Characterization of rabbit production systems in central, coastal, eastern and rift valley region of Kenya, Thesis submitted to the Department of Animal production, University of Nairobi, 2014.
Wanjala, F., Wanyoike, W. and Gachuiri, C. Performance of New Zealand White, California White and their cross under two feeding regimes. Int. J. Develop. Sustainab., 2016, 5, 199-212.
Association of official analytical chemists, AOAC, Official methods of Analysis of AOAC International 16th Ed. Vol. 1, Association of official analytical chemists, 1998.
Van Soest, P.J., Robertson, J.B. and Lewis, B.A. Methods for dietary fibre, neutral detergent fibre, and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. J. Dairy Sci., 1991, 74, 3583-3597. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(91)78551-2
Noblet, J. and Perez. J.M. Prediction of digestibility of nutrients and energy values of pig diets from chemical analysis. J. Anim. Sci., 1993, 71, 3389-3398 10. National Research Council, NRC, Energy, Nutrient Requirements of swine, Nation Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC, 1998. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2527/1993.71123389x
Mmereole. F., Egoh J.O. and Obinne, J.I. Growth performances and cost analysis of weaner rabbits fed varying dietary levels of crude protein supplemented with Tridax procumbens. Pak. J. Nutr., 2011, 10, 120-123. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3923/pjn.2011.120.123
I2. yeghe-Erkapotobor, G.T. and Uchegbu, E.C. Growth performance of rabbits fed sweet potato vines supplemented with methionine and lysine. J. Animal Prod. Res., 2016, 27, 1-15.
National Research Council, NRC. Nutrition Requirements of Rabbits, Nutrient Requirements of Nonhuman primates: 2nd Ed. Nation Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C, 1977.
Medugu, C.I., Mohammed, G., Raji, A.O., Barwa, E. and Andi, Z.A. Utilization of different forages by growing rabbits. Int. J. Adv. Biolog. Res., 2012, 2, 375-381.
Abdulrazak, S.A., Njuguna, E.G., and Karau, P.K. The effect of supplementing Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) hay with Acacia tortilis leaves and pods mixture on intake, digestibility and growth performance of goats. Livestock Research for Rural Develop., 2005, 17, 12.
Adegbola, T.A. and Oduozo, T. Nutrient intake, digestibility and performance of rabbits fed varying levels of fermented and unfermented cassava peel meal. J. Anim. Prod., 1992, 12, 41-47.
Apráez, E. and Moncayo, O.A. Agronomic and bromatological characterization of a Kikuyo meadow (Pennisetum clandestinum Hoechst) undergoing rehabilitation through tillage and organic and / or mineral fertilization, 2000; http://www.virtualcentre.org/es/enl/keynote14.htm
Adejinmi, O.O., Odetola, O.M. and Omole, J.A. Performance and carcass characteristics of growing Rabbits fed diets containing different fibrous ingredients. J. Agricul. Sci., 2013, 5, 198-203. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v5n9p198.
Marais, J.P. Factors affecting the nutritive value of Kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum)A review. Tropical grasslands, 2001, 35, 65-84.
Khan, K., Khan, S., Khan, R., Sultan, A., Khan, N. A. and Ahmad, N. Growth performance and meat quality of rabbits under different feeding regimes. Trop. Ani. Healt. Produc., 2016, 48, 1661-1666. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-016-1140-4
Unigwe, C. R., Okorafor, U. P., Atoyebi, T. J. and Ogbu, U. M. The nutritive value and evaluation of sweet potato (Ipomoea Batatas) leaf meal on the growth performance of broiler chickens. Int. J. Pure. Appl. Sci. Technol., 2014, 20, 19.
Adjare, S.O. Rabbit Production Guidelines. Penal Reform Int., 2003. www.penalreform.org/.../man-2003-rabbit-production-guidelines-en.pdf . 23. Lukefahr, S.D. Rabbit production in Uganda: Potential versus opportunity. World Rabbit Sci., 1998, 6, 3-4.
Akinmutimi, A.H. and Osuagwu, C.C. Response of weaner rabbits fed graded levels of sweet potato meal in place of maize-based diet. Pak. J. Nutr., 2008, 7, 705-709. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3923/pjn.2008.705.709
Mailafia, S., Onakpa, M.M. and Owoleke, O.E. Problems and prospects of rabbit production in Nigeria-A review. Bayero J. pure. Appl. Sci., 2010, 3, 20-25. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/bajopas.v3i2.63213
Geerts, A. An evaluation of the compound feeds manufactured in Tanzania, 2014. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Reading).
NRC. Nutritional energetics of domestic animals and glossary of energy terms, 1981.
Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, FAO. Nutrition and feeding. In: The rabbit book. FAO. Animal Production and Health series No. 21, 1997. (Ed. F. Lebas, P.Coudert, H. de Rochambeau and R.G. Thebault). FAO, Rome,Italy
Maertens, L. Possibilities to reduce the feed conversion in rabbit production. In. Proceedings Giornate di coniglicoltura ASIC 2009, Forli, Italy, p.p. 2009, 1-10
Xiccato, G. and Trocino, A. Feed and energy intake in rabbits and consequences on farm global efficiency. In Proc.: 6th International Conference on Rabbit Production in Hot Climates, 2010, 1-4.
Aduku, A.O. and Olukosi, J.O. Rabbit Management in the Tropics: Production Processing, Utilization, Marketing, Economics, Practical training, Research and Future Prospects, Living Book Services, G.U. Publications, Abuja, 1990.
Lebas F., Gidenne T., Perez J.M. and Licois D. Nutrition and pathology. In: The nutrition of the rabbit. Ed. De Blas. and Wiseman), CABI publishing, Wallinford, UK, 1998, 197, 214.
Taiwo, A.A., Adejuyigbe, A.D., Adebowale, E.A., Oshotan, J.S. and David, O.O. Performance and nutrient digestibility of weaned rabbits fed forages supplemented with concentrate. Nigerian J. Ani. Produc., 2005, 32, 74-78. DOI: https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.v32i1.1042
Omoikhoje, S., Bamgbose, A., Aruna, M. and Animashahun, R. Response of weaner rabbits to concentrate supplemented with varying levels of Syndrellanodiflora forage. Pak. J. Nutr., 2006, 5, 577-579. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3923/pjn.2006.577.579
Mutetikka, D.B., Carles, A.B. and Wanyoike, M.M. The effect of level of supplementation to diets of Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) hay, maize (Zea mays) leaves and sweet potato (Ipomea batatas) vines on performance of grower rabbits. J. App. Rabbit Res., 1990, 13, 179-183.
Pinheiro, V., Mourão, J.L., Monteiro, D. and Silva, S. Growth performance and behaviour of growing rabbits housed on cages, closed parks or semi-open system. 10th World Rabbit Congress proceedings, 2011.
Cheeke, P.R. Digestive Physiology in Rabbit Feeding and Nutrition, Academic Press, Orlando, FL, 1987, 20-32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-057078-5.50008-X
Adejinmi, O.O., Odetola, O.M. and Omole, J.A. Performance of carcass characteristics of growing rabbits fed diets containing different fibrous ingredients. J. Agricul. Sci., 2013, 5, 198-203. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v5n9p198
Agostini, P.S., Fahey, A.G., Manzanilla, E.G., O’Doherty, J.V., De Blas, C. and Gasa, J. Management factors affecting mortality, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of grow-finishing pigs. Animal, 2014, 8, 1312-1318. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731113001912
Pierozan, C.R., Agostini, P.D.S., Gasa, J., Novais, A.K., Dias, C.P., Santos, R.S.K. and Silva, C. A. Factors affecting the daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio of pigs in grow-finishing units: the case of a company. Porcine Health Management, 2016, 2, 7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-016-0023-4
White, P. Environmental consequences of poor feed quality and feed management. On farm feeding and feed management in aquaculture, FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper, 2013 , 583, 553-564.
Mutsami, C. An Economic Assessment of Structure, Conduct and Performance of Rabbit Market In Nakuru, Kiambu And Nyeri Counties, Kenya, 2018. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Nairobi).
