Carcass and Fur Yield, Internal Organ Characteristics and GIT Morphometry of Rabbits Fed Diets Containing Composite Mango (Mangifera indica) Fruit Reject Meal

Although there is continuous search for non-conventional feedstuffs which are more affordable and available in place of costly conventional feedstuffs by animal nutritionists because it is one way that could provide animal protein for a greater population of the world [1], the final destination has not been reached. This is because the feed value of non-conventional feedstuffs is low in most cases [1-3]. More so, the fact that feeding accounts for about 70% of the cost of producing non-ruminants animals (poultry especially) is no news any longer among animal producers. This cost varies among animal species. Even among non-ruminant animal species, feeding cost differs depending on the management system adopted and the animal species involved since feed cost in rabbit as low as 26.57% of total cost [4,5] have been reported. Evaluations on growth performance or digestibility alone do not tell enough since the measured weight may not be the needed components of the carcass. Growth performance of rabbits was similar in an experiment [4,5], but when the same procedure was followed and carcass evaluated, significant differences occurred for [6]. Rabbit as an alternative animal protein source capable of bridging the gap in animal protein consumption among people in developing and developed countries of the world, due to its low cost of production occasion by higher feed conversion ratio from cheaper feedstuffs, higher prolificacy and short generation intervals [7]. Rabbits are herbivores and have the ability to degrade substantial amount of fibre [8]. The use of forages such as Moringa oleifera [9], Acacia (Acacia nilotica) [7] and Leptadenia Hastata [10] as feedstuff in rabbit diets have been reported. Fruit by-products such as Mango (Mangifera indica) seed kernel [11] and mango fruit reject [12] have also been used as feedstuff for rabbits. Mango (Mangifera indica) fruit is nutritionally rich and has good flavor, aroma, taste, and health promoting characteristics [13]. It is produced on a large scale around many countries of the world, with total world figure put at 39 million metric tons [14]. Nigeria occupies the 9th position on the list of top-most producers of mango around the world, with a production figure of 850 000 metric tons [13]. 4