Intake and Palatability of Forages Fed to Rabbits in the Coastal Savannah Ecological Zone of Ghana

Abstract

Brassica oleracea outer leaves, Stylosanthes guianensis, Megathyrsus maximus and Musa paradisiaca leaves were offered to mixedstrain rabbits in three trials. Thirty two weaner kits were used in each trial. In the first trial, the time of first bite and intake duration of the four forages offered together for 15 minutes were recorded. Weaners were randomly allocated to four groups, and kits in each group were offered one of the forage species separately with concentrate for three and seven days adaptation and testing periods respectively. Finally kits were offered the forages together. Brassica oleracea was bitten first (0.20 min) and had the highest intake duration (2.07 min). Brassica oleracea had the highest daily and relative intakes and was the most consumed when the forages were offered separately and together. Intake of the forages was followed by Stylosanthes guianensis, while Musa paradisiaca and Megathyrsus maximus were the least preferred forages in terms of quantities consumed. The study suggests that the first method, time of the first bite and intake duration of the forages, had a comparative advantage over the other methods in determining the preference of forages by rabbits in view of the shorter period required for the trial.