DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
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Item Rabbit production in Nigeria: some aspects of current status and promotional strategies(Universitat Politècnica de València, 1999) Onifade, A. A.; Abu, O. A.; Obiyan, R. I.; Abanikannda, O. T. F.Some aspects of the current status and promotional strategies of rabbit production in Nigeria were appraised in this study. This was because such data are lacking and rabbit production offers a great potential towards attainment of food security in terms of animal protein intake. Data were obtained principally from field survey, questionnaires administration, personal observations and experiences of authors, structured personal interviews of identified rabbit farmers, personal interview and observational data from agricultural extension agents, personal interview and visitation to markets and retail outlets for rabbit, proxy information from distant collaborators, recorded data from Government establishments and published data. All the information collected was synthesized to provide an informative blend on major aspects of rabbit production. From the data collected, it was found that rabbit production in Nigeria is largely a traditional, non-commercially oriented, family-consumption targeted, and smallholder type operation comprising an average of 2-7 does and 3 bucks. About 3.4-5.2% of the Nigerian population may be keeping rabbits with women and children being mostly involved. Rabbit keeping is both intensive and semi- intensive, though some scattered free range backyard rearing was recorded. Unlike the rural rabbit keepers, space is limiting for most urban rabbit keepers. Diets of rabbits in Nigeria are primarily forages, grasses and legumes, kitchen wastes while commercial feeds are rarely fed. Bucks and does are under-utilized, with does producing about 20 weaned rabbit per year and are usually offered for sale after four parities. Nigerian rabbits do not suffer any peculiar disease, however skin disease (mange) and coccidia infection are very common. There are high peri- and post-natal mortalities, and it was estimated that overall mortality between birth and marketing was between 30-40%, being highest in the young ones. The performance and reproductive productivity of rabbits in Nigeria are strongly correlated with the level of management. There exists a latent and growing market for rabbit meat in Nigeria especially as an alternative livestock species. We propose promotional strategies for sustainable rabbit production.Item Nutrient utilisation and growth performance of rabbits fed diets based on maize, cassava or their by-products(Taylor & Francis, 1998) Onifade, A. A.; Abu, O. A.; Akande, O. N.; Abanikannda, O. T. F.A 70-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate nutrient intake, digestibility and growth characteristics of rabbits fed maize grain (mg), maize offal (mo), cassava tuber (ct) or cassava peel (cp) based diets. The four test ingredients were included at 30.84% in diets supplying 17% crude protein. The consumption of dry matter, crude protein and crude fibre were higher (P4.05) in mo and cp based diets, while apparent digestibilities were better (Pc0.05) in rabbits fed mg and ct based diets. Rabbits fed mo attained the highest (P<0.05) body weight gain, followed by those fed mg and ct and the group fed cp gained the least. Feed consumption was higher (P<0.05) in rabbits fed cp and mo than mg and ct diets; and the gain: feed ratio was the reverse of the feed intake. It is concluded that mo and ct are effective substitutes for mg, however, diets based on cp would require nutrient supplementation.Item Assessment of the effects of supplementing rabbit diets with a culture of saccharomyces cerevisiae using performance, blood composition and clinical enzyme activities(Elsevier, 1999) Onifade, A. A.; Obiyan, R. I.; Onipede, E.; Adejumo, D. O.; Abu, O. A.; Babatunde, G. M.The effects of dietary supplementation with a pure culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 0.0, 1.5 and 3.0 g kg−1 on growth performance, blood composition and clinical enzyme activities in serum of rabbits were studied during a 56-day experiment. Rabbits fed 3.0 g kg−1 attained the heaviest (P < 0.05) body weight, consumed the highest (P < 0.05) quantity of feed and had the best (P < 0.05) feed conversion. Rabbits fed 1.5 g kg−1 yeast had higher (P < 0.05) body weight, feed intake and feed conversion efficiency than the unsupplemented group. The haematocrit, erythrocytes, haemoglobin, serum albumin: globulin ratio, and erythrocytic indices in rabbits fed 3.0 g kg−1 were superior (P < 0.05) to the unsupplemented group. Other haematological indices were similar (P > 0.05); but differential populations of lymphocytes were fewer (P < 0.05) and monocytes and eosinophils were larger (P < 0.05) in rabbits fed the basal group. Serum Ca2+, globulin, cholesterol, aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, and alkaline phosphatase were higher (P < 0.05) in the basal group than with the yeast-supplemented diets. The data obtained suggest that yeast addition significantly improved growth performance, enhanced haematopoiesis, reduced serum cholesterol and maintained the serum enzymes at normal ranges. Furthermore, the activities of the clinical enzymes suggested liver- and bone-specific advantages from supplemental yeast. The effects of yeast were dose-dependent, and there is a need to determine the economically optimum dietary concentration.Item Suitability of screened fungi for solid state fermentation(1999) Abu, O. A.; Losel, D. M.; Onifade, A. A.; Tewe, O. O.Seven fungi were screened to determine their suitability for solid-state fermentation. In a 5-day submerged fermentation Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizopus isolate, Amtillaria mellea and Rhizopus sexualis recorded 166.49, 122.60, 50.58, 23.94. 17.94 and 39.80 mg/ 100 ml biomass production respectively. Pleurotus ostreatus did not show any growth. However the colony radial growth rates of A. niger, A. oryzae, F. oxysporum and P. ostreatus varied from 10.50-76.88 mm over a 7-day growth period. The best colony radial growth rate of 76.88 mm was obtained for A. niger while 49.83, 73.83 and 50.50 mm were obtained for A. oryzae, P. ostreatus and F. oxysporum respectively. A positive correlation was obtained between colony radial growth rates and rate of starch utilization by the fungi. The overall result indicated that A. niger and A. oryzae had superiority over other fungi for all the parameters studied. They are therefore recommended for future studies of protein enrichment of starchy Substrates by solid state fermentation.Item Productive response of rabbits to supplemental copper in a diet based on tropical feedstuffs(Taylor & Francis, 1998) Onifade, A. A.; Abu, O. A.Effects of supplemental copper in a diet based on tropical feedstuffs on productive performance, carcass measurements and haematology of rabbits were investigated in a 70d trial. Copper as CuS04.5H2O was supplemented at 0, 125, 250 and 375 mg kg-1 into a basal diet. The basal diet served as control treatment. Eight rabbits, each constituting a replicate, were fed on one of the experimental diets. The results showed that daily weight gain and feed intake of the rabbits fed 250 and 375 mg kg-1 supplemental copper were the highest followed by rabbits fed 125 mg kg-1 and the basal diet. Relative weights of the selected organs were similar except for the brain that tended to be lower in rabbits fed 250 and 375 mg kg-1 copper. Haemoglobin, packed cell volume and red blood counts were lower on 375 mg kg-1, however, haematological indices in rabbits fed 125 and 250 mg kg-1 were superior to other treatments. The results indicated that supplemental copper in a diet based on tropical feedstuffs improved performance, supported adequate organ development and might adversely affect haematopoiesis in rabbits at 375 mg kg-1 rate of inclusion.Item Effects of cassava waste substitution for maize in weaner rabbit diets(1996) Abu, O. A.; Onifade, A. A.The maize in a weaner rabbit diet was substituted with cassava waste meal (CWM) at 0,25,50, 75 and 100%. The effects of these treatments on the performance, nutrient digestibility and haematology of the rabbits were evaluated in a 70-day feeding trail period. Twenty-five littermate New Zealand white rabbits between 6 -7 weeks old averaging 750 ±25.23g were used. The rabbits were randomly alloted to five treatments and each animal was individually accommodated in metal cages. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. The mean voluntary feed intake increased (P < 0.05) with increasing levels of cassava waste meal inclusion in the diets. The body weight gain decreased (P <0.05) along the dietary treatments. The lowest average daily weight gain was recorded in rabbits fed 100% cassava waste meal inclusion, while the feed efficiency decreased (P < 0.05) correspondingly with increasing levels of CWM in the diets. Except for crude ash which were similar (P > 0.05), apparent digestibility for the other dietary components were different (P < 0.05) among treatments. The haematological values were unaffected (P > 0.05). This study indicates that CWM can replace up to 75% of maize in rabbit diets without compromising growth and digestibility.