Effectiveness of stinging nettle using in the ration of the rabbits

Olga Burmistrova, Evgeny Burmistrov, Natalya Naumova, Julia Betz, Irina Rodionova and Nina Kolobkova

Abstract: The use of cheap unconventional herbal fodders in rabbit breeding is of scientific and practical interest. The article presents the results of studying the influence of the supplementary feeding with stinging nettle hay on the balanced ration, gain, development, and meat productivity of rabbits. The replacement of 5% and 25% of coarse fodder with stinging nettle hay resulted in an increase in the content of crude (by 3.5-20.3%), digestible protein (by 4.4- 22.8%) and carotene (by 3.3-22.7%) in terms of nutritional value. The introduction of 5% of nettle hey of the coarse fodder nutrition value into the rabbit ration contributed to a larger gain in the live weight of rabbits (aged 130 days – by 62.7%, P < 0.01; aged 180 days – by 18.7%, P < 0.05) and ensured a high meat productivity. Thus, the following indicators increased due to the muscle tissue gain: preslaughter weight – by 11.6%, P < 0.01 and slaughter weight – by 13.4%, P < 0.01; the weight of the matured carcass – by 13.4%, P < 0.01. When 25% of stinging nettle hay of the coarse fodder nutrition value were introduced into the ration, we observed an increase in the heart muscle (the power of influence is 22.0%, P < 0.05).

Keywords: meat productivity; rabbits; stinging nettle; the growth and the development

Date published: 2021-12-18