International Journal of Animal Science, Husbandry and Livestock Production ISSN: 2141-5191 Vol. 7(5), pp. 398-401, July, 2021.  © Advanced Scholars Journals

Full length Research paper

Effect of cottonseed meal supplemented with tryptophan on growth performance and organ development of rabbit bucks

Alaba O^1*, Adenuga B¹, Odu O²  and Adejumo DO¹

¹Animal Physiology and Bioclimatology Unit, Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.,

²Agricultural Biochemistry and Nutrition Unit, Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author’s Email: [email protected]

Accepted 12^th May, 2021.

Abstract 

The effect of cottonseed meal supplemented with tryptophan on growth performance and organ development of rabbit bucks was studied using a total of 35 weaned male rabbits weighing 1182.3 – 1419.0g. Seven diets with 3 different inclusion level of 0.0, 0.2, and 0.4% tryptophan with 0.0, 10, and 20% cottonseed meal based diets were fed to a group of 5 rabbits each. Rabbits were allotted in a completely randomized design. Experimental diets and water were supplied ad- libitium for the period of 5weeks. During the feeding trial, weekly growth performance (body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio) and organ weights were determined. All the growth parameters were not affected (p>0.05) by the different inclusion of the dietary treatment and in the organ (p>0.05) weights. However, liver weight in T1 (2.68g) was better (p<0.05) than T6 (1.98g). Also, the left and right testes in T1 (0.31g) were better (p<0.05) than T5 (0.17g) and T6 (0.20g). This experiment showed that cottonseed meal supplemented with tryptophan did not have any effect on the growth performance and organ weight of the rabbit buck at the dietary inclusion levels.

Keywords: experimental diets, feeding trials, gossypol, weaner rabbits, performance, monogastric