Converting Bush to Meat: A Case of Chromolaena odorata Feeding to Rabbits

Abstract: The feasibility of using Chromolaena odorata leaf meal (COLM) in the feed of rabbit was investigated in a study that lasted for twelve weeks. Chromolaena odorata leaves were harvested, dried, crumbled and incorporated into five iso-nitrogenous and iso-calorific diets at 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 % levels of inclusion. Feed intake, weight gain and digestibility of the rabbits were monitored using a completely randomized design. Results showed that DM intake (g/d) of 41.42, 32.86, 32.66, 24.65 and 26.72 for 0 (control), 10, 20, 30, and 40 % COLM diets respectively were not significantly different among diets that contained COLM, while only those of 10 and 20 % COLM diets compared favourably with that of the control diet. Weight gain (g/d) of the rabbits were not significantly different in the control (7.73), 10 % (6.30), 20% (6.64) and 30 % (4.12) COLM diets, while the least weight gain (3.0g/d) from 40 % COLM diet did not show any significant difference from those of other COLM diets. Feed conversion efficiency of the rabbits were found similar in all the diets (range = 0.11 in 40 % to 0.19 in 0 % COLM). Digestibility values were generally good, and were not significantly affected by diets in DM (58.57- 74.00%) and NFE (74.77- 81.94%) digestibilities. It is concluded that COLM can be incorporated into the feed of rabbits up to the level of 30% of the DM fed and still obtain good performance especially weight gain comparable to those fed on standard concentrate. Key words: Chromolaena odorata, digestibility, feed intake, rabbit, weight gain