RESPONSE OF RABBITS TO MULTI-ENZYME TREATED MORINGA OLEIFERA LEAF MEAL

Abstract

Two separate experiments were conducted to investigate (1) the effects of harvesting regimes (70, 80, 90 and 100 days) on M. oleifera biomass yield, phytochemicals and chemical composition and (2) the effect of “Kemzyme plus P Dry” treated M. oleifera leaf meal on the growth performance, hematological parameters, nutrient digestibility of weaned rabbits. M. oleifera seeds were sown, in a completely randomised block design with four blocks, in Botanga irrigation site in the Northern Region of Ghana. Agronomic data, biomass yield, chemical composition and nutrient digestibility were collected and analysed. Twenty New Zealand White (NZW) breeds of rabbits with an average initial weight of 908.75±135.3 g were divided into four groups and allocated four test diets for a period of 49 days after one week adaptation period. The experimental diets comprised of T0 (formulated concentrate without M. oleifera leaf and Kemzyme plus P Dry), T1 (formulated concentrate with M. oleifera leaf and without Kemzyme plus P Dry), T2 (formulated concentrate with M. oleifera leaf + 0.03g/day of Kemzyme plus P Dry) and T3 (formulated concentrate+0.03g/day of Kemzyme plus P Dry). There was a significant effect of harvest regimes (P<0.05) on the biomass yield, leaf number and stem girth. The harvest at100 days had the highest biomass yield of 785.08 kg DM ha-1. Plant height was positively correlated (P>0.001) with biomass yield. The highest (P<0.05) DM (204.3 gkg-1) and CP (218.4 gkg-1 DM) was obtained at 80 days and 70 days respectively. Statistically, 100 day harvest had the highest (P>0.05) NDF (348 gkg-1 DM) and ADF (192.3 gkg-1 DM). There was a significant difference (P<0.05) in IVOMD (37.46-40.62%) and ME (13.19-16.16 MJ/kg DM). The results showed M. oleifera plant contains saponins, flavonoid, tannin, phytosterols, reducing sugars and triterpenes. The average daily dry matter intake was significantly higher in rabbits fed T2 (formulated concentrate with M. oleifera leaf +0.03g/day of Kemzyme plus P Dry). Average daily weight gain was found to be higher in rabbits fed with T2. The nutrient digestibility differed among test diet with rabbits fed T2 having the highest (CP: 85.74%, NDF: 79.31%) digestibility. White blood cell (WBC) differentials (Monocytes and Basophil), haemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) significantly differed (P<0.05) with rabbits fed with the T2 having a better performance. In conclusion, for intensive biomass production of M. oleifera was highest in the 100 day harvest with the highest crude protein and IVOMD obtained in the 70 days. Rabbits fed with formulated concentrate with M. oleifera leaf + 0.03g/day of Kemzyme plus P Dry showed superor performance in feed intake and growth. Keywords: Digestibility, Multi-enzyme, Moringa oleifera, Phytochemicals, Haematology.