- Asafa, A. R.1; Oladigbolu, F. A.2; Ishola, O. J.1; Oso, Y. A. A.1; Raji, M. O.3; Agbalaya K. K.1; Olufeko, S. O.4; Agbaye, F. P.1; Onigemo, M. A.1; Obasoyo, D. O.5; James, M. T.6; Oyewole, O. Y.1 & Bamgbose, A. M.1&2
- DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19382016
- SSR Journal of Multidisciplinary (SSRJM)
This study evaluated the cost-benefit implications of replacing wheat offal with toasted Bambara nut offal (BNO) in the diets of weaner rabbits. Twenty-four crossbred weaner rabbits were allotted to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design, with BNO replacing wheat offal at 0% (control), 25%, 50%, and 75% levels. At the end of the ten-week feeding trial, data on feed intake, weight gain, and prevailing market prices of feed ingredients were used to compute economic indices including feed cost per kilogram diet, total feed cost per rabbit, cost per kilogram weight gain, and cost savings. Results showed that feed consumed (4.03-4.23 kg) was not significantly (P>0.05) affected by dietary treatment. However, feed cost per kilogram diet decreased progressively and significantly (P<0.05) with increasing BNO inclusion, from ₦131.47 in the control diet to ₦105.15 in the 75% BNO diet. Similarly, total feed cost per rabbit was significantly (P<0.05) reduced from ₦555.68 in the control group to ₦423.75 in the 75% BNO group, representing a cost saving of ₦131.93 per rabbit over the ten-week period. Feed cost per kilogram weight gain, though not significantly different (P>0.05), was numerically lowest in the 75% BNO group (₦417.65) compared to the control (₦591.19). It was concluded that replacing wheat offal with toasted Bambara nut offal up to 75% significantly reduces feed costs without compromising growth performance, thereby improving profitability for rabbit farmers. The use of this locally available agro-industrial by-product is recommended as a cost-effective feeding strategy in weaner rabbit production.
