The Role of Fibre in Rabbit Nutrition
Abstract
One hundred Dutch rabbits were given a range of diets between 4 and 12 weeks of age, based on feed mixture and lucerne, containing from 12.0 to 19.14 % CF to clarify the level of CF of which deviation growth was retarded.
The five tested groups were assigned the following treatments at the age of 4 to 12 weeks: Group 1 fed only feed mixture without hay meal. Group 2 20 % hay meal, Group 3 40 % hay meal and Group 4 60 hay meal, Group 5 fed on 0, 20, 40 and 60 % hay meal during the fortnightly periods (4-6, 6-8, 8-10 and 10-12 weeks) experimental periods respectively. The rest of the feed in the treatment was feed mixture.
Highest growth rates were recorded by rabbits of group 2 (14.38 % CF) followed by group 5 (graduated hay levels) and the daily feed consumption was increased by increasing the hay level, but it decreased in group 5 (0, 20, 40 and 60 % hay).
Rabbits receiving the control feed mixture diet (CFM) and that of 20 % lucerne recorded the best feed conversion, while that of 60 % lucerne (19.4 % CF) recorded the worst, and group 5 recorded the intermediate value, being 16.3 % less than that of FM treatment (12.0 % CF).
Carcass percentages at 12 weeks of age were 66.05, 55.70, 58.89, 56.94 and 57.59 % showing that the FM of 12 % CF was the most superior to other diets. The pH values of rabbits’ meat were not inFLuenced by slaughter age, and the meat of older rabbits was darker than that of younger ones. Group 2 (14.38 % CF) had higher water holding capacity than other groups at 8, 10 and 12 weeks.
The previous results indicated that feeding Dutch growing rabbits on feed mixture, or mixtures of ?bre source. such as lucerne meal. up to the extent of 20 % or graduated hay levels (20, 40 and 60 %) not only gave the best perfonnance but also revealed marked improvement in meat characteristics, while rearing these rabbits on higher levels of lucerne is not sufficient for meat production.
The five tested groups were assigned the following treatments at the age of 4 to 12 weeks: Group 1 fed only feed mixture without hay meal. Group 2 20 % hay meal, Group 3 40 % hay meal and Group 4 60 hay meal, Group 5 fed on 0, 20, 40 and 60 % hay meal during the fortnightly periods (4-6, 6-8, 8-10 and 10-12 weeks) experimental periods respectively. The rest of the feed in the treatment was feed mixture.
Highest growth rates were recorded by rabbits of group 2 (14.38 % CF) followed by group 5 (graduated hay levels) and the daily feed consumption was increased by increasing the hay level, but it decreased in group 5 (0, 20, 40 and 60 % hay).
Rabbits receiving the control feed mixture diet (CFM) and that of 20 % lucerne recorded the best feed conversion, while that of 60 % lucerne (19.4 % CF) recorded the worst, and group 5 recorded the intermediate value, being 16.3 % less than that of FM treatment (12.0 % CF).
Carcass percentages at 12 weeks of age were 66.05, 55.70, 58.89, 56.94 and 57.59 % showing that the FM of 12 % CF was the most superior to other diets. The pH values of rabbits’ meat were not inFLuenced by slaughter age, and the meat of older rabbits was darker than that of younger ones. Group 2 (14.38 % CF) had higher water holding capacity than other groups at 8, 10 and 12 weeks.
The previous results indicated that feeding Dutch growing rabbits on feed mixture, or mixtures of ?bre source. such as lucerne meal. up to the extent of 20 % or graduated hay levels (20, 40 and 60 %) not only gave the best perfonnance but also revealed marked improvement in meat characteristics, while rearing these rabbits on higher levels of lucerne is not sufficient for meat production.
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