Effects of Graded Levels of Sesame Seed Cake Diets on the Growth and Reproductive Parameters of Rabbits

In a twenty-four week feeding experiment, 45 weaner rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) of mixed breeds with an average weight of 722-750 g were used to evaluate the inclusion of different dietary levels of sesame seed cake diets on growth performance, fertility and post-partum performance of growing rabbits. The rabbits were randomly assigned to the dietary treatments in a completely randomized design with nine rabbits per treatment at three rabbits per replicate and fed with diets containing 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 % sesame seed cake in diets designated as T1 (control), T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively. Proximate analysis of the sesame seed cake (SSC) on dry matter basis indicated that it contained 4.80 % moisture, 25.50 % crude protein, 29.33 % ether extract, 4.50 % crude fibre, 5.25 % ash, 30.62 % nitrogen free extract. After a two-week stabilization period, data on body weight and feed intake were collected from the experimental animals on weekly basis. Does were mated for fertility and post-partum parameter evaluation to conclude the second phase of the experiment respectively. Results obtained in growth performance indicated that feed intake was significantly higher (p<0.05) for rabbits on treatment with 50 % SSC and lowest in treatment with 0 % SSC. There was increasing trend of body weight gain from control to higher level of sesame seed cake supplementation i.e. T1 (380.52 g), T2 (450.00 g), T3 (480.56 g), T4 (450.00 g) and T5 (530.55 g). The control treatment had higher feed conversion ratio than the supplemented treatments, 100 % SSC has the lowest FCR. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference in all the reproductive parameters tested. There was significant (p<0.05) difference in gestation length and milk yield across treatment groups. The study revealed that sesame seed cake is rich in protein and could be used as a partial or total replacement as protein source without any adverse effect on the productive performance and it also support normal body functions and reproduction in weaner rabbits fed sesame seed cake.