| Abstrakt: |
The performance, carcass characteristics and lipid profile of thirty-two (32) male and female New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits fed varying levels of turmeric Rhizome Powder were evaluated. The rabbits were allotted to four (4) treatments of graded dietary levels (0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5%) of Turmeric Powder denoted as T1 T2 T3 and T4 respectively. Each treatment with 8 rabbits (4 males and 4 females) were divided into two (2) replicates of 4 rabbits each in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) for 84 days. Performance parameters measured included feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio. Carcass characteristics parameters include; Hind leg, fore leg, thoracic cage, loin fat, liver, heart, kidney, lungs and lipid profile include; high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides (TG), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), cholesterol. Result showed that Turmeric Rhizome powder additives indicated significant differences (P < 0.05) across treatments. Feed intake (4915.18) and total weight gain (1887.25) were significantly higher in rabbits fed diets with 0.50% turmeric powder in T2 than those on other treatments. Feed conversion ratio (5.14) were significantly higher in T4 and lower in T2 (4.96) compared to T1, and T3. Turmeric additive also improved the carcass parameters as well as Lipid Profile Parameters (HDL) which were significantly different (P < 0.05) in T2, T3 and T4 except for the control. However, the overall positive effect of turmeric powder in rabbits diets was observed in T2 (0.50%) for both males and females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
