Effects of dietary inclusion of misteltoe leaf meal on performance and nutritional qualities of rabbit meat

The objectives of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of mistletoe leaf meal on the performance and meat quality of rabbit. Twenty-four New Zealand White x Chinchilla weaner rabbits aged between seven and eight weeks was assigned to four treatment diets with mistletoe inclusion levels of 0, 5, 10 and 15%. Zero level was the control based diet (18% C.P and 2800kcal/kg M. E). formulated with local ingredients. Each treatment had six rabbits balanced for sex and weight (3 males, 3 females). At the end of the seventh week, four rabbits were randomly picked from each treatment group and slaughtered through regular vein dislocation method for chemical analysis. Values for chemical analysis: Ash, crude fibre (CF), Nitrogen Free Extract (NFE), moisture, crude protein (CP) and ether extract in meat did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) among treatments. However, meat from treatment four (4) had the highest moisture content and crude protein than the other treatments. Ether Extract (E.E) in control was significantly higher than dietary treatments with mistletoe. The final weight, Average weekly weight gain and average weekly feed intake were significantly (P < 0.05) different between treatments. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in feed efficiency and dressing percentage between the treatments diets and the control. Rabbits on 15% mistletoe leaf meal inclusion had relatively higher final body weights, weight gain and dressing percentage followed by10% 5% and the control. This aided performance and physiological development of the rabbits by utilizing the diets. Measured internal organs were not affected by the dietary inclusion of mistletoe leaf meal as there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the treatments. The results further showed that up to 15% mistletoe leaf meal in the diets did not have any adverse effect on the performance and meat qualities of the rabbit. Hence for improved performance and carcass quality in rabbit, 15% mistletoe leaf meal could be included in rabbit diet during scarcity of forage during dry season.