Utilisation of Biodegraded Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis) Fruit Peel as a Replacement for Maize in Grower Rabbit Diet

A seventh-day feeding trial was done to assess the effect of Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) fruit peel (SOP) biodegraded with bovine rumen content (RC) on the growth response of 5-week old New Zealand white rabbit. Fresh SOP divided into 4 equal portions SOP 0 , SOP 1 , SOP 2 and SOP 3 , were mixed with RC in ratios 1:0, 1:01, 1:02 and 1:0.3 w/w, respectively. Each mixture was tied in a polythene sac, fermented for 48 h, sun-dried to 10% moisture and the dried RC removed. Milled SOP 0 , SOP 1 , SOP 2 and SOP 3 replaced 10% maize in control diet T 1 to produce SOP based-diets T 2 , T 3 , T 4 and T 5 , respectively. Thirty rabbits were grouped into 5 of six each with similar weight, and randomly assigned to one each of five diets. Rabbits were fed and served water ad-libitum. Growth performance, carcass yield and nutrient digestibility were determined. Diets had significant effect (p<0.05) on protein intake, protein conversion ratio but not on body weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, water consumption, feed:water ratio. Dressing percentage and carcass cuts did not vary significantly (p>0.05) but percent neck weight, liver weight and small intestine length varied significantly (p<0.05). Coefficient digestibility of crude protein, fibre and fat differed significantly (p<0.05). SOP biodegraded with bovine rumen content in ratio 1:0 to 1:0.3 can replace 10% dietary maize without adverse effect on growth response of rabbit.