TITLE:
Effects of Ginger Meal (Zingiber officinale) Associated to Desmodium intortum and/or Stylosanthes guianensis on Growth Performances of Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Noumedem Fouegap Jodel Ghandi, Miegoue Emile, Tchoffo Herve, Ebile Dayan Agwah, Yamssi Cedric, Mouchili Mama, Vemo Bertin Narcisse, Fonteh Florence Anyangwe Angaba
KEYWORDS:
Ginger Meal, Desmodium intortum, Stylosanthes guianensis, Growth Performance, Rabbits
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Animal Sciences,
Vol.12 No.4,
September
20,
2022
ABSTRACT: Background: The sustainability of animal production system depends mostly on feed
management. Therefore, the combination of local leguminous forage as source of
protein and ginger as phytobiotics can be one of the safe ways to attain this goal. The aim of this study
was to evaluate the effect of ginger meal associated with ration containing
local protein sources Desmodium intortum and/or Stylosanthes guianensis on
growth performance in rabbits. Method: A total of 64 young rabbits (32
males and 32 females) with an average weight of 1000 ± 200 g were used. There were
randomly assigned to 8 experimental diets in a complete randomized designed
with 8 rabbits per treatment and each rabbit serving as an experimental unit.
From the control diet R0 (basal diet without legumes and phytobiotic) and 7
other diets (treatment): R1(basal
diet without legumes + 1% ginger powder), R2 (basal diet + 20% S. guianensis + 1% ginger meal), R3
(basal diet + 20% D. intortum + 1%
ginger powder), R4 (basal diet + 20% D.
intortum + 0% ginger powder), R5 (basal diet + 20% S. guianensis + 0% ginger powder), R6 (basal diet + 10% D. intortum + 10% S. guianensis + 0% ginger powder) R7 (basal diet + 10% D. intortum + 10% S. guianensis + 1% ginger powder). Feed intake, body weight gain,
feed conversion ratio, carcass yield and average daily consumption were
evaluated using standard procedures. Results: Feed intake and feed
conversion ratio of animals fed R0 and R7 rations were significantly improved.
Animals fed R1 ration had a significantly lower mean value for feed conversion
ratio (1.83 g) and
feed intake (1.67 g)
respectively. Live weight (2432.54 g), total weight gain (1644.90 g), average daily feed intake (109.06 g) and dressed weight (1404.25 g)
were significantly higher for rabbits fed R1 ration. Relative weights of organs
of animals fed R4 ration were significantly higher. Conclusion: Feeding rabbits with R1 diet significantly improved growth performance.