A study of the need for fibre by the growing New Zealand white rabbit

Abstract

New Zealand White rabbits, aged between 5 and 8 weeks, were offered diets based on oatmeal together with up to 500 g kg−1 of ground oat husk, or 500 g kg−1 of ground barley straw or 400 g of a purified cellulose. The rabbits gained about 40 g liveweight per day when fed a well‐balanced control diet (in which oatmeal, grassmeal, corn oil and fishmeal were the main constituents) and, apart from one occasion, there was no significant reduction in this rate of gain even when the diets offered contained up to 500 g kg−1 of these fibre sources. Food consumption increased from 80 g day−1 to 115 g day−1 as the acid detergent fibre concentration in the diet increased from 39 to 270 g kg−1. Digestible and metabolisable energy contents of the diets fell as the fibre concentration rose but the rabbits were able to adjust their intakes and maintain their daily metabolisable energy intakes constant at about 1100 kJ. The proportion of fat in the body dry matter fell as the fibre concentration in the diet was raised. A minimum dietary fibre content of 100 g kg−1 as measured by the acid detergent fibre or crude fibre techniques is suggested for optimum healthy growth.

Effect of varying levels of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) haulms on the growth performance of weaners rabbits (Oryctalagus cuniculus)

“…Acid detergent fiber intake (ADFI) of rabbits on diet 4 (70% GH diet) was significantly (P<0.01) higher than those for the other diets, thus revealing that ADFI was influenced by the level of inclusion of GH in the diet. This is in agreement with the report of Spreadbury and John (1978), who stated that feed consumption increased with increase in the ADF of the diet. The values ranged from 10.11 g/day on the 50% GH diet to 19.28 g/day on the 70% GH diet.…”

“…These values were lower than 17.4 g/day reported by Aduku et al (1986) for rabbits fed groundnut haulm diets, 41.1 g/day reported by Pote et al (1980) for exotic breed of rabbits feed 50% alfalfa and 19.1 g ADF diets under temperate conditions and 45.1 g/day obtained by Harris et al (1984) on diets containing 40% Desmodium. The trend in DWG observed among the mean values of the diets is in agreement with the findings of Spreadbury and John (1978), who stated that rabbits performed better on a low fibre than on a high fibre diet. The low values obtained in our study may be due to low DMI, genetic as well as environmental effects.…”

“…They concluded that caecotrophy in rabbits is more important in the digestion of forage protein than fibre utilization due to selective retention of non-fibre components in the caecum. Spreadbury and John (1978) concluded that for optimum growth, it is advisable to maintain the level of ADF in the diet above 50 g and preferably at about 100 g ADF per kg of diet. They also found that feed consumption increased from 80g to 115 g/day as the ADF concentration in the diet increased from 39 to 270 g ADF per kg, and recommended 140 g per kg for growing rabbits and up to 250 g per kg for replacement of breeding stock in their later stages of growth.…”

Desempenho e características de carcaça de coelhos alimentados com rações contendo diferentes níveis de amido e fontes de fibra

“…Por outro lado, o teor de energia da carcaça tende a ser maior quando os animais são alimentados com rações contendo relação energia/proteína digestível mais elevada, que, segundo Fraga et al (1983), pode proporcionar maior deposição de gordura corporal e pode estar relacionado com o aumento no teor de matéria seca e redução da proteína da carcaça, fato observado também por Spreadbury (1978). Assim, o nível e o tipo de fibra podem influenciar a relação energia/ proteína digestível, os teores de proteína e energia na carcaça e eficiência de retenção de nutrientes, também sugerido por Gomes (1996).…”

Digestibilité apparente après ligature du canal pancréatique chez le lapin en croissance : effet d'une alimentation ad libitum

“…Or, dans l'essai de Corring et Lebas (1977), les animaux ne recevaient chaque jour que 100 g d'aliment et n'avaient donc pas la possibilité de compenser la faible efficacité digestive par une surconsommation alimentaire. Il a été en effet nettement démontré Bombeke, Okerman et Normans, 1978 ; Spreadbury et Davidson, 1978 ;Dehalle, 1980) (Catala, 1976 (Bacques, Demigné et Vaiton, 1970 ;Catala, 1976 (Catala et Bonnafous, 1974 ;Catala, 1978). En raison de la disparition des enzymes protéolytiques d'origine pancréatique, un flux plus important de protéines non digérées entre dans le caecum.…”