However, it is envisaged that access to quality feeds may be a limiting factor to meat production of rabbits. Traditionally, ruminant and monogastric (poultry and swine) animals have been the main sources of meat, but studies have shown that farming of rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus) and other micro-livestock species (grasscutters and snails) is emerging in many developing countries like Nigeria as potential sources of animal protein (Ozung et al. In the light of escalating global population, FAO ( 2012) reported that from year 2000 to 2020, the projected world requirement for protein would increase tremendously and this would necessitate the imperative to explore other aspects and species in livestock production to bridge the gap of protein intake from animal origin. It was observed that CHL rabbits were more predisposed to stress than the NZW rabbits as indicated by the lipid peroxidation values, and according to this present finding, 12.5% FCPHM is recommended as active feed ingredient in rabbit diets. Malondialdehyde concentration was significantly influenced by both dietary treatments ( p < 0.05) and breed ( p < 0.001) factors. The interactive effect of breed and dietary treatment was only significant ( p < 0.05) for serum albumin concentration. ![]() ![]() Serum total protein concentration was significantly ( p < 0.05) influenced by the dietary treatment, while alanine aminotransferase, globulin and total protein concentrations were significantly ( p < 0.01) affected by the breed effect. The study showed that the breed effect and dietary treatment were significant ( p < 0.01) for total weight gain and feed conversion ratio with NZW breed fed 12.5% FCPHM having higher values than CHL breed. ![]() One hundred and eighty, 5-week-old unsexed weaned rabbits 90 New Zealand white (NZW) and 90 Chinchilla (CHL) were randomly allocated into three dietary treatments, Diets I, II and III (0%, 12.5 and 25%FCPHM, respectively), and were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial design (2 breeds and 3 diets) of a randomized block design. Cocoa pod husk meal was taken through solid-state fermentation for a period of 2 weeks using Rhizopus stolonifer as its starter culture. ![]() The study evaluated the growth performance, haemabiochemical and antioxidant profile of two breeds of rabbits fed diets containing varying levels of Rhizopus stolonifer fermented cocoa pod husk meal (FCPHM).
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