Economics of Production of Weaner Rabbits Fed Diets Containing Fresh Water Snail (Pila ampullacea) Shell Ash
F. B. P. Abang *
Department of Animal Production, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
E. Zoo
Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Gbajimba, Guma, Nigeria
T. Odunlade
Department of Animal Production, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This research was carried out using twenty five (25) mixed breed weaner rabbits to investigate the effect of replacing bone ash with fresh water snail (Pila ampullaceal) shell ash on the diet of weaner rabbits on the economics of production. Five experimental diets tagged T1 to T5 were formulated such that fresh water snail (Pila ampullaceal) shell ash replaced bone ash at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% for treatments T1 to T5 respectively. The rabbits were randomly assigned to the five dietary treatments and replicated five times giving a total of one rabbit per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). The research showed that the diet affected the economics of production such that feeding dietary treatments resulted in positive profit per rabbit at 100% level of inclusion of the test ingredient. The cost of feed in gram of each treatment feed was lower in fresh water snail (Pila ampullacea ) shell ash based diet than the control diet. This research has shown that fresh water snail (Pila ampullacea) shell ash can serve as a substitute for bone ash in weaner rabbits diet up to 100% positively affected the economics of production parameters.
Keywords: Rabbits, fresh water snail (Pila ampullacea) bone ash, economic variables