A study was undertaken to determine the optimal rate
of soybean pods in the growing rabbit feed. Soybean pods were
incorporated in balanced feed
at 0, 5,
10 and
15% to evaluate the
digestibility of diets and
its effect
on the bioeconomic
performances of growing rabbits.
A total of 80 young rabbits of 42 to 49 days-old and weighting on
average 605g to 611g were kept during 8 weeks. The experimental design
was a randomized complete block with 4 treatments and 5 replications of
4 rabbits each. The results showed that the average body live weight
(1290g) and daily weight gain (12g) of rabbits fed the control diet (F0)
were significantly lower (P<0.05)
than those of rabbits
fed F5 (1843g; 22g) and F10 (1848g; 22g). However, no significant
difference (P>0.05) was found between the average body weight and the
average daily gain of rabbits fed F0 and F15 (1612g; 18g). Feed intake
of rabbits fed F0 (42g) was significantly lower (P<0.05) than that fed
F5 (67g), F10 (70g) and F15 (65g). The feed conversion ratio was similar
(P>0.05) in F0 (4.75), F5 (3.00), F10 (3.18) and F15 (3.83). The
mortality rate was also similar (P>0.05) in F0 (25%), F5 (20%), F10
(25%) and F15 (25%). At the end of the growth period, 6 rabbits per
treatment were sampled for a digestibility study. The apparent
digestibility of the dry matter and organic matter in F5, F10 and F15
was lower (P>0.05) than in F0. The digestibility of crude protein was
also lower (P>0.05) in F0 (63.20%) than in F5 (67.55%), F10 (72.23%) and
F15 (66.94%). Economically, no significant difference (P>0.05) was
noticed concerning the feeding cost and the economic feed efficiency.
Furthermore, F5 and F10 diet improved these economic variables compared
to F0 and F15. Thus, up to 10% of soybean pods can be used efficiently
in the growing rabbit feed.
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