COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF TWO DIFFERENT RATION TYPES FOR GROWING RABBITS

V. Ribikauskas, V. Macijauskiene, I. Stuoge, A. Jeresiunas, D. Ribikauskiene

Abstract: A trial was carried out to evaluate the effects of two ration types for the growth rate, food consumption, nutrient digestibility and meat quality of growing rabbits. Growing rabbits were allotted into two groups. The rabbits in group 1 were given the ration composed of on farm made concentrated feed mixture and hay. the rabbits in group 2 were fed the ration composed of manufactured compete compound feed for rabbits and hay. The results from the trial showed that rabbits fed manufactured complete compound feed and hay had the highest weight gains. Feeding this ration type resulted in 38.5% higher daily weight gain and 23% lower food consumption. the nutrient digestibility of the ration composed of manufactured complete compound feed and hay was higher in comparison with that of the ration composed of on farm made concentrated feed mixture and hay. Dry matter content in the meat if treated rabbits was higher by 0.80%, protein – 0.68%, fat – 0.08%, fatty acid content (linolic – 4.09%, P<0.025, linoleic – 1.30%, P<0.025) in the intramuscular fat than the corresponding items for the control group.

Keywords: digestibility; food consumption; rabbits; ration

Date published: 2017-09-11