Effects of Different Methods of Processing Leucaena leucocephala Leaf Meal on Growth Performance and Nutrient Digestibility of Rabbits

摘要

Processing and digestibility potentials of Leucaena leucocephala leaf meals as feed ingredient were investigated in rabbit’s diets. The leaves were collected and processed by air-drying (AD) soaked in fresh water (FW) for 36 hours, soaked in 60~(o)C hot water (HW) for 24 hours and fermentation (FM) for 5 days. Five diets were prepared tagged (T_(1) – T_(5)) T_(1) was the control while T_(2), T_(3), T_(4), and T_(5) contained 40% level fixed of Leucaena leucocephala AD, FW, HW and F respectively. Weaner rabbits (average weight of 510g – 640g) were subjected to 5 treatments in three replicates using a completely randomized design (CRD) for 84 days. Chemical analysis of the feed ingredients and experimental feed were conducted. The result showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) between the treatments in the performance of the animals. The performance of the rabbits fed air-dried Leucaena leucpcephala was significantly lower (P<0.05) in all parameters except the initial weight. It is therefore recommended that all the methods of processing used in the study apart from air drying were adequate in preventing any observed harmful effect when the diet contained 40% Leucaena leucocephala.