Current feeding systems for rabbits in the Caribbean
1983
Rastogi, R. (West Indies Univ., St. Augustine (Trinidad and Tobago). Dept. of Livestock Science)
The nutrient requirements of rabbits, and practical feeding systems are reviewed. Rabbits require 12 % crude fibre (CF), 16-18 % crude protein (CP) and 2,000-2,500 K cal of digestible energy (DE) per kg of diet. The diet should include the following: 20-30 % starch, essential amino acids preferably from plant proteins which are efficiently digested, 5 % fat, a vitamin-mineral mix including 0.5 % salt, and clean water. Rabbits prefer a pelleted meal which should not exceed 0.5 cm in length. Dried, high protein green feeds are useful in tropical developing countries e.g. pigeon pea and cassava foliage, water hyacinth, Leucaena, bermuda grass, Kudzu, etc. Energy needs may be satisfied by use of agro-industrial by-products such as brans, middlings, distillers and brewers grains, coconut meal, citrus pulp, bakery waste, root crops, waste mangoes, etc. Remaining protein requirements should be met with protein supplements such as soyabean or cottonseed meal. No compounded pellets are available in the Caribbean, however restricted amounts of pelleted pig grower ration and forage ad lib were suggested in the following quantities of concentrate (g/day): gestating doe - 80, lactating doe - 140, weanling rabbits - 80. Agro-industrial by-products may also be used along with minimal quantities of concentrate pellets
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