Combined feeding system for young breeding rabbits
1997
Gippert, T. (Kisallattenyesztesi es Takarmanyozasi Kutatoint., Godollo (Hungary)) | Ismail, F.S. (Dept. of Poultry Prod., Fac. of Agric., Mansoura Univ., Mansoura (Egypt.))
Ninety NZW female young breeding rabbits of 10 weeks of age were used. They were allocated in three equal groups, 30 animals in each one. Two types of rabbit feed concentrate were used. The first concentrate contained 23.2 and 11.1 percent crude protein and fiber respectively, while the corresponding values were 18.2 and 9.8 percent respectively for the other one. The rabbits fed on one of the following dietary treatments: 1. 'Kornye' angora breeding rabbits feed (Control). 2. First rabbit feed concentrate (25 percent) + grains mixture (45 percent) including oat, barley and wheat at 1:1:1 and 30 percent grass hay (RFC1). 3. Second rabbit feed concentrate (70 percent) and 30 percent grass hay (RFC2). The experiment was started at 12 weeks and lasted until 20 weeks of age, the first two weeks (10-12) were considered as an adaptation period. The main result could be summarized as follows. The highest body weight gain (BWG) was recorded for the control group (21.3 g/d), while the values obtained for the other two groups fed on RFC1 and RFC2 were virtually similar (16.25 vs 16.86 g/d) during the entire experimental period. Likewise, the best feed conversion rate (5.65 g/g) was recorded for the control group, while similar values were observed for the other two groups (6.57 vs 6.82 g/g) during the experimental period. It could be concluded that the values of BWG for rabbits fed on RFC1 and RFC2 were lower than that of rabbits which consumed the control diet, but reached normally the stage of breeding and the combined feeding could satisfey the nutrient requirements of young breeding rabbits. Accordingly, the cheap farm feeds can efficiently be used to offer new sources for feeding rabbits and hence reducing the feeding costs
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