Performance of Male New Zealand Rabbits Fed Date Fruits (Phoenix dactylifera) Based Diets

Abstract

The study was carried out to investigate the performance of male New-Zealand white rabbits fed dates based diets. Sixteen male rabbits were used for the study and were randomly allocated to four groups with three replicates in a randomized block design. Group A was fed with 500 g growers mash (control), Group B ate 375 g grower mash plus 125 g of Date fruits, Group C ate 250 g of Date fruits and Group D consumed 125 g of grower mash plus 375 g of Date fruits. The initial body weight, final body weight, body weight gained, average daily weight gain and total feed intake were mostly significantly (p< 0.05) different from each other except for the initial body weight in Group B (375 g growers‟ mash plus 125 g Date fruits) and (250 g growers‟ mash plus 250 g Date fruits) where they were not significantly different (p<0.05) from each other. As the level of inclusion of date fruits increased in value except in treatment D (125 g growers‟ mash plus 375 g Date fruits), it was concluded that date fruits did not in any way threaten the well-being of male New Zealand white rabbits. ><0.05) different from each other except for the initial body weight in Group B (375 g growers‟ mash plus 125 g Date fruits) and (250 g growers‟ mash plus 250 g Date fruits) where they were not significantly different (p<0.05) from each other. As the level of inclusion of date fruits increased in value except in treatment D (125 g growers‟ mash plus 375 g Date fruits), it was concluded that date fruits did not in any way threaten the well-being of male New Zealand white rabbits. ><0.05) from each other. As the level of inclusion of date fruits increased in value except in treatment D (125 g growers‟ mash plus 375 g Date fruits), it was concluded that date fruits did not in any way threaten the well-being of male New Zealand white rabbits.