DOI: 10.36347/sjavs.2019.v06i10.001

Pages: 212-219

A study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary energy level in African giant rats growth performances. Thirty-two young African giant rats whose 16 males and 16 females averaging 293.41±19.21g were used. They were randomly distributed into 4 groups of 8 animals each (4 males and 4 females). To each group was randomly attributed a diet characterized by one of the 4 studied digestible energy levels (3600 Kcal/kg DM, 3800 Kcal/kg DM, 4000 Kcal/kg DM and 4200 Kcal/kg DM). The daily distribution of the experimental feeds last the whole study duration. Results showed no significant difference among dietary energy levels 3600, 3800, 4000 and 4200 Kcal/ kg DM which allowed the feed intake of 741.15 g, 759.41 g, 759.67 g and 753.85 g per week respectively. Though the growth rate was faster in animals receiving 3800 Kcal/kg DM, the evolution of body weight was comparable (p>0.05) among treatments. The lowest consumption index was registered in cricetoma fed 3800 Kcal/kg DM, although no significant (p>0.05) difference was obtained compared to other treatments. The carcass yield was not significantly (p>0.05) affected regardless the energy level. In view of the present results, the dietary digestible energy requirement that gave the best growth performances in African giant rat was 3800 Kcal/kg DM.