Growth Performance of Feeding Hydroponic Maize Fodder to Weaner Rabbit
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate proximate composition of hydroponic maize fodder (HMF) and the growth performance of weaner rabbits by replacing the concentrate mixture with HMF at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% levels in their diet. Forty (40) weaner rabbits were used; the experiment lasted six (6) weeks. The experiment had five (5) treatments and four (4) replications with two (2) weaner rabbits per replication in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance with the aid of the SPSS package. Results of the proximate composition of HMF showed that dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre, ash and NFE had 28.31, 8.75, 4.52, 14.14, 5.23 and 67.36% respectively. Production parameters such as daily weight gain, daily feed intake/head/42 day (g) (DM basis), and feed conversion ratio were studied. T1, T2, and T3 significantly (p< 0.05) improved the final weight of the weaner rabbits (1052.50, 988.33, and 965.00g) respectively, T1 and T2 were significantly (p< 0.05) higher in daily weight gain (9.86 and 9.24g), daily feed intake on DM basis significantly decreases down the treatment. It was concluded that HMF can be incorporated up to 50% in the basal diet of rabbits.
Article Details
Copyright (c) 2024 Jatutu, S. S., Muhammad, A. S., Egbo, M. L., K. M. Bello (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Adebiyi, O. A., Adefila, T. A and Adeshola A. T. (2018). Comparative evaluation of hydroponic maize fodder and conventional basal diet on performance, digestibility and blood profile of weaned pigs. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production, 45(2), 96-105
https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.v45i2.538 DOI: https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.v45i2.538
AI-Karaki, G. N. and AI-Hashimi, M. (2012). Green fodder production and water use efficiency of some forage crops under hydroponic condition. International Scholar Research Network. https://doi.org/10.5402/2012/924672.
https://doi.org/10.5402/2012/924672 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5402/2012/924672
AOAC (2012). Official methods of Analysis.19th ed. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington DC. 684 p.
Chakravarthi, M. K., Pavan, T. V. Sreekar, V., Krishnamurthy, A. A., Kumar, C., Sudheer, K. and Moise, S. (2020). Effect of Dietary Incorporation of Hydroponic Maize Fodder On The Growth Performance of New Zealand White Rabbits. Forage Research, 46 (3), 30-32
Cuddeford, D. (1989) Hydroponic grass. In Practice, 11(5), 211-214.
https://doi.org/10.1136/inpract.11.5.211 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/inpract.11.5.211
Girma, F. and Gebremariam, B. (2018) Review on hydroponic feed value to livestock production. Journal of Scientific and Innovative Research, 7(4), 106-109.
https://doi.org/10.31254/jsir.2018.7405 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31254/jsir.2018.7405
Hassen, A. and Dawid, I. (2022) Contribution of Hydroponic Feed for Livestock Production and Productivity: A Review. International Journal of Ground Sediment and Water, 15, 899-917
Jemimah, E. R., Gnanaraj, P. T., Muthuramalingam, T. Devi, T. and Vennila, C. (2018). Nutritive value of hydroponic yellow maize fodder and conventional green fodders - a comparison. International Journal of Agricultural sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 6(1), 98-101.
Mohsen, M. K., Abdel-Raouf, E. M., Gaafar, H. M. A. and Yousif, A. M. (2015). Nutritional evaluation of sprouted barley grains on Agricultural by products on performance of growing New Zealand white rabbits. Nature and science, 13(10), 35-45.
Morsy, A. T., Abul, S. F. and Emam, M. S. A. (2013). Localized Hydroponic Green Forage Technology as a Climate Change Adaptation Under Egyptian Condition. Research Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences 9, 341-35.
Naik, P. K. and Singh, N. P. (2013). Hydroponics Fodder Production: An Alternative Technology for Sustainable Livestock Production Against Impeding Climate Change. In: Compendium of Model Training Course 'Management Strategies for Sustainable Livestock Production Against Impending Climate Change', Held During November 18-25, 2013. Southern Regional Station, National Dairy Research Institute, Adugodi, Bengaluru, India, Pp. 70-75.
Naik, P. K., Dhuri, R. B. and Singh, N. P. (2011). Technology for Production and Feeding of Hydroponics Green Fodder. Extension Folder No. 45/ 2011, ICAR Research Complex For Goa, Goa.
Naik, P. K., Dhuri, R. B., Karunakaran, M. Swain, B. K. and Singh, N. P. (2014). Effect of Feeding Hydroponics Maize Fodder on Digestibility of Nutrients and Milk Production in Lactating Cows. Indian Journal of Animal Science, 84 (8), 880-883.
https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v84i8.43275 DOI: https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v84i8.43275
Naik, P. K., Dhuri, R. B., Swain, B. K. and Singh, N. P. (2012) Nutrient Changes with the Growth of Hydroponics Fodder Maize. Indian Journal of Animal Nutrition, (29), 161-163.
Naik, P. K., Swain, B. K. and Singh, N. P. (2015). Hydroponics: Its Feasibility as an Alternative to Cultivated Forages. In: Proc. 9th Biennial Animal Nutrition Association Conference on 'Eco-Responsive Feeding and Nutrition: Linking Livestock and Livelihood' Held at Guwahati, India, Pp 74-87.
Ndaru, P. H., Huda, A. N., Marjuki, P. R. D., Shofiatun, U., Nuningtyas, Y. F. and Ndaru, R. K. (2020). Providing High Quality Forages with Hydroponic Fodder System. The 4th Animal Production International Seminar. doi:10.1088/1755-1315/478/1/0120541
https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/478/1/012054 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/478/1/012054
Rajkumar, G. K., Shyama, K., Elizabath, M. Dipu, T., Gangadevi, P., Srinivasan, C. and Banakar, P. S. (2016). Effect of feeding of hydroponic fodder maize on growth performance and nutrient utilization in rabbits. Journal of Indian Veterinary Association, 14(1), 41-44.
Shipard, I. (2005). How Can I Grow and Use Sprouts as Living Food? Stewart Publishing
Sneath, R. and Mclntosh, F. (2003). Review of Hydroponic Fodder Production for Beef Cattle. Queensland Government, Department of Primary Industries, Dalby, Queensland
Snow, A. M., Ghaly, A. E. and Snow, A. (2008). A Comparative Assessment of Hydroponically Grown Cereal Crops for the Purification of Aquaculture Waste Water and the Production of Fish Feed. American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science, 3(1), 364-378.
https://doi.org/10.3844/ajabssp.2008.364.378 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajabssp.2008.364.378
Thadchanamoorthy, S., Jayawardena, V. P. and Pramalal, C. G. C. (2012). Evaluation of hydroponically grown maize as a feed source for rabbits. Proceedings of the 22nd Annual Student Research Session. Department of Animal Science University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.