A response of feed utilization, nutrient digestibility and growth rate of crossbred rabbits to sugarcane stalk residue in the basal diet with Operculina turpethum supplementation

Abstract

An experiment was carried out at the experimental farm and laboratory of Can Tho University to evaluate feed utilization, nutrient digestibility and growth rate of crossbred rabbits. It was a factorial design in which the first factor was length of sugarcane stalk residue (SSR) (3 and 10 cm in length) fed ad-libitum, and the second factor was different supplement of operculina turpethum (OT) (0, 100, 200 and 300 g/rabbit/day) with three replications and four rabbits per experimental unit. Results show that SSR intake was slightly higher (P>0.05) for rabbits fed 3 cm in length and gradually decreased with increasing supplement of OT in the diets (P<0.05), while OT intakes were remarkably increased (P<0.05). Total dry matter, crude protein, ether extract and metabolizable energy intakes were higher for rabbits given SSR at 3 cm long (P<0.05) and when increasing the levels of OT supplement (P<0.05). Digestibility coefficients of DM and CP were higher for animals offered 3 cm long SSR (P<0.05), and NDF values were clearly improved with increasing OT supplement in the diets (P<0.05). The higher nitrogen intake and retention were found for rabbits fed 3 cm SSR (P<0.05) and supplemented with 300 g OT/rabbit/day. Daily gain and final live weight were significantly higher for rabbits fed 3 cm length SSR and supplemented with 300 g OT per animal per day (P<0.05). It was concluded that rabbits fed 3 cm long SSR and supplemented with 300 g OT per animal per day in the diet had better growth rate and gave higher economic returns.