Effects of Diets Incorporating Pods of Faidherbia albida (Del.) A. Chev. and Piliostigma reticulatum (DC.) Hochst. on Rabbit Performance in Burkina Faso
Mariétou Sissao *
University Center Tenkodogo, Thomas SANKARA University, 12 BP 417 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Seydou Ouattara
University Center Tenkodogo, Thomas SANKARA University, 12 BP 417 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Vinsoun Millogo
Institute of Rural Development (IDR), Nazi Boni University, 01 BP 1091 Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of incorporating Piliostigma reticulatum pods, Faidherbia albida pods, and legume haulms into diets for growing rabbits.
Study Design: A completely randomised design (CRD) was employed to assess the effect of incorporating local feed resources on the growth performance of rabbits.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Tenkodogo University Centre (Burkina Faso) from July to November 2025.
Methodology: This study evaluated the incorporation of Faidherbia albida (Del.) A. Chev. pods, Piliostigma reticulatum (DC.) Hochst. pods, and legume haulms into the diets of growing rabbits in Burkina Faso. Twenty-seven rabbits were allocated to three dietary treatments: a commercial control diet (T), a diet including Faidherbia albida pods (A), and a diet including Piliostigma reticulatum pods (B). The trial lasted 70 days, during which feed intake and body weight gain were monitored.
Results: The results showed that rabbits fed the control diet exhibited significantly higher growth (ADG: 16.45 ± 4.62 g/day) compared with those receiving the experimental diets (13.06 ± 0.47 g/day for A and 13.88 ± 0.46 g/day for B; p < 0.05). Feed efficiency was also superior for the control (FCR: 4.05) compared with the experimental diets (FCR: 5.45-5.58). Moreover, production costs per rabbit were reduced with the experimental diets (4 358-4 477 FCFA) compared with the control (4 641 FCFA).
Conclusion: These findings suggest that the integration of non-timber forest products and legume residues represents an economically viable alternative for rabbit feeding, despite slightly lower zootechnical performance.
Keywords: Growing rabbits, Faidherbia albida pods, legume haulms, Average daily gain