GROWTH AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF WEANER RABBITS FED MORINGA (moringa oleifera) LEAF MEAL

📄 Project Abstract

The increasing demand for animal protein coupled with more stringent economic conditions have encouraged greater interest in fast growing animals with short generation interval. Poultry and pigs are the first choice but their production is more demanding because of the high cost of production and competition with man for feedstuffs. Fetuga (1997) reported on the disappointing rate and level of performance in the livestock industry in Nigeria. This he attributed, among other factors, to high cost of feeds arising largely from fluctuations in feed supplies, rising prices of ingredients, poor quality feeds, inefficiency in production and distribution in the feed industry. Many investigators have suggested ways of increasing the low animal protein intake of Nigerians. One of the cheapest producers of meat that can easily fit into the wider segment of the population but which has been neglected in Nigeria is the rabbit. The rabbit has the ability to convert feedstuff such as forages, mo...