Studies on the nutritive value of cabbage by-products as a non-conventional feed stuff in feeding of growing rabbits
Abstract: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of cabbage leaves supplementation as agriculture by-product on growth performance of growing rabbits. A total of 27 male New-Zealand white rabbits (40 days old) were allotted randomly into 3 groups of 9 animals.
Each group was divided into 3 replicates of 3 animal each. The initial average live body weight values were 865.20, 865.60 and 858 g for the 1st 2nd and 3rd groups respectively. The first group (control) received commercial pelleted ration while the second and the third group fed control ration supplemented with 100 and 200-g/h/d cabbage leaves respectively. A feeding trail was lasted 8 weeks followed by digestibility trail. A slaughter trail was also carried out using 3 animals representing each group in order to evaluate carcass characteristics.
Results obtained revealed that cabbage leaves contained 19% CP, 10.4% CF, 4.2% EE, 14.8% ash and 51.6% NFE. Control group was (P<0.05) higher in final average body weight and total gain compared with those fed ration supplemented with 100 g. and 200 g/h/d cabbage leaves. However groups supplemented with 100 and 200-g. cabbage leaves/hili were (P<0.05) better in feed conversion values than that in control. Analyses of variance showed that group supplemented with 200 gram cabbage leaves/h/d was (P<0.05) higher in all nutrients digestibility compared with those fed with 100 gram cabbage leaves/h/d and the control. The same trend was observed with DCP and TDN values. . No significant difference was observed among three the treatments in dressing percentage, liver, heart, kidneys and lungs weight as percent of live body weight. Supplementing rabbit ration with cabbage leaves decreased cost of producing kg of growth by 16 to 21 %, respectively compared with traditional rabbit feed (control) It is clear to notice that cabbage leaves supplementation a cheap vegetable byproduct to rabbit ration could be used successiully at rate of 100 and 200 g/h/d during 8 weeks after weaning without any adverse effects on rabbits growth performance or any harmful influence on animal health. Key wards: Rabbits, cabbage leaves, digestibility, growth performance, carcass traits.
Publication year 2002
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى-شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى- الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
serial title Egyptian Journal Applied Science
ISSN 1110-1571
Author(s) from ARC
Agris Categories Animal feeding
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Byproducts. Carcass composition. Digestibility. Rabbits.
Proposed Agrovoc growth performance;cabbage leaves;
Publication Type Journal
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