ABSTRACT

Albino Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) belong to the mammalian order Lagomorpha and are characterized by features such as giving birth to live young, producing milk to feed their offspring, and having fur or hair on their bodies. Some are usually pure white-colored rabbit with pink eyes. Albino rabbits are known for their rapid maturation and can weigh between 5 to 5.5 kg as adults. They are reared as a source of food, as pets, income. Their furs are used in the textile industry, Rabbit manure serves as an organic fertilizer for gardens due to its high nutrient. Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), is a fleshy, juicy and pulpy fruit. This vine-like plant is one of the most widely cultivated fruits in the world, and native to tropical Africa. The fruit is fleshy and juicy, with a pulpy pulp. Citrullus lanatus is a member of the family 'Gourd' (Cucurbitaceae). The watermelon fruit contains vitamin A and some vitamin C. It is largely consumed as a refreshing summer fruit, much appreciated by consumers because of its refreshing capability, attractive colour, delicate taste, and high water content to quench the summer thirst. Thirty (30) young albino rabbit were gotten from a rabbit vendor at Aduwawa market in Benin City. The Albino Rabbits are randomly grouped into three groups, each group comprised of ten (10) Rabbits each and were allocated into three (3) nutritional treatments (chicken growers mash, Whole water melon fruits, watermelon rinds). Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) rinds and whole fruit, were collected, washed, weighed and cut into smaller pieces before being fed to the rabbits. The current study observed showed chicken growers mash, Whole water melon fruits and watermelon rinds, increase weight of fed rabbit. At this point of study, it was concluded that photochemical constituents of watermelon rinds is most responsible for the increased survival and weight of the rabbit fed, as watermelon rinds should be advocated as poultry feed not only as rabbit feed compounds. This study has shown the effect of growth performance in the utilization of chicken growers mash, Whole watermelon fruit, watermelon rinds (Citrullus lanatus) in the dietary regime of Oryctolagus cuniculus. Therefore the whole fruit and rinds can be applied in Nigeria and beyond in rearing of Rabbit. Growth rate, increased weight and survival percentages are however better with watermelon rinds.