SURVEY OF SUITABLE LOCAL FORAGES AND CROP RESIDUE AS FEEDSTUFFS FOR RABBIT PRODUCTION IN TARABA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

A survey of suitable local forage crops and crop residue for feeding rabbit was carried out in Taraba State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were, to examine the nutritional content of common forages and crop residues used in feeding rabbit, identify the suitable and available forages for feeding rabbit in the study area. Three (3) research questions were posed and answered by the study. Survey research design was used for the study. The sample for the study was one hundred and ten (110) respondents comprising seventy-five (75) rabbit farmers and thirty-five (35) animal husbandry teachers which was obtained using Taro-Yamen's formula. The instrument for data collection was a 20-item structured questionnaire. The instrument was validated by three experts. Cronbach-Alpha reliability method was used to determine the internal consistency of the items. The instrument was administered to the respondents by the researcher. Mean and standard deviation was used to answer research questions while the t-test was used in testing the hypotheses. The findings of the study revealed that forages and crop residues such as Panicum maximum (Guinea grass), Tridax procumbens, potato leaves, cassava leaves and spinach leaves are suitable and available feed for rabbit. Therefore, it was recommended that rural rabbit farmers should adopt the use of these forages and crop residue for feeding rabbit.