Authors : G.S. Ojewola, S.F. Abasiekong , M.U. Uko and M. Oguike
Abstract: The effect of dietary lysine supplementation at varying levels on the reproductive performance of rabbits of mixed breed was investigated. A total of twenty (20) does with average weight of 1.85kg were used for the study in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The experimental diets consisted of concentrate mash (16.87% CP and 2564.84 kcal kg 1ME) supplemented with 0.00, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30 and 0.40 lysine levels, respectively, designated as diets 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 with 4 replications having one doe per replicate, thus making a total of 4 rabbits per treatment. The experiment lasted 11 weeks (77 days). The results showed that the various parameters among which are gestation length, average litter size at birth, litter weight at birth, litter weight and size at weaning were not significantly influenced (p>0.05). Nonetheless, rabbits fed diet 3 gave the best mean litter weight (1272 g) at weaning, while diet 2 has the highest (5.44) weaning size. It was also observed that individual kit weaning weight differed from treatment to treatment depending on the litter size at weaning; the higher the litter size at weaning the lower the individual weaning weights. In conclusion, lysine supplementation and total dietary lysine in rabbit diets should not exceed 0.20% and 1.01%, respectively.
Ojewola, G.S. , S.F. Abasiekong , M.U. Uko and M. Oguike , 2006. Influence of Lysine Supplementation on the Reproductive Performance of Rabbits in a Tropical Environment. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 5: 114-117.