Thesis Abstract

Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of toasted Icacinia mani (Efik-Ison) based diets on the performance of weaner rabbits. A total of 60 weaner rabbits were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments with three replicates per treatment and five rabbits per replicate. The dietary treatments included a control diet without toasted Icacinia mani (T0) and three experimental diets containing 5% (T1), 10% (T2), and 15% (T3) levels of toasted Icacinia mani. The experimental period lasted for 8 weeks. The results showed that rabbits fed diets containing toasted Icacinia mani had significantly (P < 0.05) higher average daily weight gain compared to those on the control diet. The final body weight of rabbits in T2 and T3 groups was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the control group, with no significant difference observed between T2 and T3 groups. Feed intake was not significantly different among the treatment groups. However, feed conversion ratio was significantly (P < 0.05) improved in rabbits fed diets containing toasted Icacinia mani compared to the control group. Blood parameters including hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, and platelet count were not significantly affected by the dietary treatments. Similarly, organ weights (liver, kidney, and spleen) were not significantly different among the treatment groups. However, the weight of the cecum was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in rabbits fed diets containing toasted Icacinia mani compared to the control group. In conclusion, the inclusion of toasted Icacinia mani up to 15% in the diets of weaner rabbits improved their growth performance in terms of average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio. The absence of negative effects on blood parameters and organ weights suggests that toasted Icacinia mani can be a potential alternative ingredient in rabbit diets. Further research is recommended to investigate the optimal inclusion level of toasted Icacinia mani in rabbit diets and its effects on meat quality and economic viability.

Thesis Overview

1.0 INTRODUCTIONAnimal protein in most of the developing countries is not readily available to the populace due to the high cost of production faced by the livestock industry. This is largely due to the high cost of livestock feed. Feed contribute about 60% of the total cost of production. This is as a result of the unavailability and high cost of the conventional feedstuffs like maize and soybeans which is occasioned by the competition between man and livestock (Vander Zijpp 1997; Emenalon 2004). This made animal protein unaffordable by the masses in the developing nations and has given rise to many nutritional problems emanating from low consumption of animal protein.The world population is ever increasing. In the developing countries in particular, farmers are faced with the challenge of meeting the demand for food by the teeming population. According to Christopher et al 1997; Onimisi 2005, the ever increasing population in developing countries practically erodes increases in food production leaving no hope of ever having surplus grains to compound economically viable livestock feed. The long term growth of animal production in Nigeria is dependent on a better utilization of farm waste products which attract little or no monetary values (Terve, 1997). Therefore current research efforts in most developing countries are aimed at identifying potential feed sources that have little or no demand by humans that will be cheap and available for compounding livestock rations as it will remove the competition between man and livestock. Some of such potential feed materials that are been investigated include; by products from garri processing industry and wastes from Cattle ranches, abattoirs, and poultry houses (Alawa and Umunna 1993, Abudulmalik et al 1994).This research study is aimed at investigating a new potential feed material known as Icacinia mani, Efik-isong in Ibibio language. It is not used as feed by man. It is a tuber crop that grows wild and a good source of energy.1.1 OBJECTIVE OF STUDYTo determine the body weight performance of weaner rabbits fed diets in which dietary maize was partially replaced with toasted Efik-isong, Icacinia mani flour so processed.To determine the effect of the toasted Icacinia mani on haematolology and blood biochemistry of the weaner rabbit