Evaluation of Sex and Feed form on Growth Performance, Carcass Yield, Economic Benefit and Serum Biochemistry of Rabbit

Background and Objective: Feed form (mash, pellet) plays an important role in the livestock industry. There’s a need to evaluate the specific form of feed that can help to improve the growth performance, carcass yield, health benefits and cost of production in rabbit production. Materials and Methods: A total of forty-eight 7-8 weeks old male and female crossbreed rabbits were used to determine the effect of sex and feed form on growth performance carcass, cost benefits and serum biochemistry of male and female rabbits fed diets in mash and pellet form. The animals were weighed and allotted to 4 treatments (T1-12 male rabbits fed mash diets, T2- 12 female rabbits fed mash diet, T3-12 male rabbits fed pelletized diets, T4-12 female rabbits fed pelletized diets) and were in a 2×2 factorial arrangement. Data collected on growth performance, carcass yield, cost-benefit and serum biochemistry were analyzed using ANOVA. Results: Significant (p<0.05) differences were obtained in the effect of feed form on cost per kg diet (/kg) and cost per daily feed intake (). A higher (p<0.05) cost per kg diet (159.86) was obtained on the rabbit-fed pelletized while rabbit-fed mash diet had the least (139.76). Higher (p<0.05) cost per daily feed intake (12.95) was obtained on the rabbit-fed pelletized while rabbit-fed mash diet had least (10.71). Sex and feed form had no significant (p>0.05) difference in growth performance, carcass yield, or effect of sex on cost-benefit. Conclusion: The study concluded that sex and feed form had no detrimental effect on growth performance, carcass yield, cost-benefit and serum biochemistry of male and female rabbits. However, feeding diet in mash form could be assumed to be more economical in terms of growth, efficient feed utilization, least cost diet formulation and optimum profit in the rabbit production enterprise.