Engineering Journal: Volume-9, Issue-3, March, 2023

Abstract— A study was conducted to determine the apparent nutrient digestibility and cecal parameters of grower rabbits fed concentrates with Panicum maximum and Gynura aurantiaca. A total of 24 New Zealand rabbits were used for the study and were randomly assigned to four (4) dietary treatments of T1, T2, T3 and T4 in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with six (6) animals per treatment. They were subjected to varying ration of 100% concentrates (C) for the control, 50% concentrate + 50% of Pannicum maximum (C+G) for T2, 50% concentrate + 50% of Gynura aurantiaca for T3, and 50% of concentrate + 25% of Pannicum maximum + 25% of Gynura aurantiaca for T4. Nutrient digestibility and cecal parameters were analyzed at the end of the experimental trial. The result from the study showed significant (P < 0.05) difference on crude protein digestibility, dry matter digestibility, crude fat digestibility, ash digestibility, crude fibre digestibility, and nitrogen free extract digestibility. Thus, rabbits fed 50% concentrate+25% guinea grass+25% purple velvet showed superior values for crude protein digestibility, dry matter digestibility, and nitrogen free extract digestibility, with respect to other groups. Crude fat digestibility, and crude fibre digestibility were statistically highest among rabbits fed 50% concentrate+50% purple velvet when compared to other treated groups. Also, rabbits fed the control diet and those fed 50%concentrate + 50% Gynura aurantiaca recorded similar values that were statistically highest when compared to others. Furthermore, the cecal pH and NH3 were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by the test diet with the superior value of cecal pH recorded among rabbits fed 50% concentrate+25% guinea grass+25% purple velvet with low values of NH3 when compared to other treated groups. Thus, the research recommends that equal mixture of concentrate at 50%+ 25% Guinea grass +25% of Gynura aurantiaca in treatment 4 should be adopted due to their promising potentials from the parameters analyzed.