Growth performance and carcass characteristics of cross-bred rabbits fed diets containing palm kernel oil residue

Abstract

This study was conducted to explore the potential of palm kernel oil residue (PKOR), as substitute for wheat bran (WB) on growth performance and carcass characteristics of cross-bred rabbits in Ghana. Forty-eight seven-week old rabbits (1113± 318.20 g) were randomly allotted to 4 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. The rabbits were given diets in which WB was replaced with PKOR at 0, 25, 50 and 100% during 49 days feeding trial. At the end of the trial, the animals were slaughtered for carcass and meat evaluations. There were no significant (p > 0.05) differences in feed intake, growth rates, feed conversion ratio, carcass yield, internal organ weights and most of the primal cuts assessed. The moisture contents reduced whereas the crude protein content increased (p < 0.001) and chilling, cooking (p < 0.001) losses reduced in meat of animals fed the PKOR-based diets. The use of PKOR to 100% reduced the feed cost to about 14%. PKOR could be used to substitute up to 100% of wheat bran in rabbit rations, without adverse effects on growth performance and carcass characteristics of the meat.