Effects of diets with Amaranthus dubius Mart. ex Thell. on performance and digestibility of growing rabbits

Abstract

Abstract:The effects on performance and digestibility in growing rabbits were studied by comparing 3 diets containing increasing inclusion rates of amaranth (Amaranthus dubius Mart. ex Thell.): 0 (A0), 160 (A16) and 320 g/kg (A32 diet). Diets were formulated isoproteic and isocaloric to meet the nutrient requirements of growing rabbits. One hundred and thirteen weaned New Zealand White rabbits (mean±standard deviation weight: 760±102 g), individually caged, were randomly assigned to one of the 3 experimental diets. Rabbits were fed ad libitum from 35 to 87 d of age, and health status and performance traits were monitored. The coefficients of total tract apparent digestibility of the diets were measured between 42 and 46 d of age in 12 rabbits per treatment. Amaranthus dubius contained 209 g/kg dry matter (DM) of crude protein and 398 g/kg DM of neutral detergent fibre. There were no significant differences between treatments in weight gain (mean 21.6 g/d) and live weight at the end of the fattening period (mean 1883 g). Daily feed intake was higher (P<0.05) in A0 than in A16 and A32 diets (85.4 vs. 73.7 and 69.9 g/d, respectively), and feed conversion rate improved with increased inclusion of A. dubius in the diet (from 3.84 to 3.28 for A0 and A32 diets, respectively; P<0.05). Health status was not affected by the amaranth inclusion rate. Total tract apparent digestibility showed high values, with no differences among diets except for ether extract. Thus, A. dubius could be considered as an alternative source of protein and fibre for rabbit feeding in tropical and subtropical regions.

Evaluation of haematological, serum biochemical and histopathological parameters of growing rabbits fed Amaranthus dubius

“…Chemical composition of A. dubius meal, reported by Molina et al. (), was 934 g DM/kg, 209 g CP/kg DM, 13 g EE/kg DM, 204 g Ash/kg DM, 199 g CF/kg DM, 398 g NDF/kg DM, 288 g ADF/kg DM and 47 g ADL/kg DM, and contributed 5.3 MJ ED/kg DM.…”

“…One hundred and thirteen New Zealand white rabbits of both sexes, weaned at 35 days with an initial weight of 760 ± 102 g (mean± SD ) and a slaughtering weight of 1,883 ± 183 g at 87 days of age, involved in a fattening and meat quality trial (Molina et al., , ), were used. Animals were randomly assigned to one of the three experimental diets from 35 to 87 days of age (A0: n = 37, A160: n = 38, A320: n = 38).…”

“…The ground plant material was kept in hermetically closed plastic containers, which were stored in a cool environment for conserving it until its analysis and use as a raw material in the manufacture of experimental diets. Chemical composition of A. dubius meal, reported by Molina et al (2015), was 934 g DM/kg, 209 g CP/ kg DM, 13 g EE/kg DM, 204 g Ash/kg DM, 199 g CF/kg DM, 398 g NDF/kg DM, 288 g ADF/kg DM and 47 g ADL/kg DM, and contributed 5.3 MJ ED/kg DM.…”

“…The plant presents a high green matter yield, as well as excellent nutrients content and a low antinutrients proportion (Molina et al., ; Montero‐Quintero, Molina, & Sánchez‐Urdaneta, ; Montero‐Quintero, Moreno Rojas, Molina, González‐Redondo, & Sánchez‐Urdaneta, ). Therefore, it has been proposed for human consumption (Montero‐Quintero, Moreno‐Rojas, Molina, Colina, & Sánchez‐Urdaneta, ,b) and animal feeding (Arellano et al., ; Molina, González‐Redondo, Moreno‐Rojas, Montero‐Quintero, & Sánchez‐Urdaneta, ; Molina et al., ).…”

Topos de cenoura como substituto parcial para o feno de alfafa em dietas para coelhos

“…In developing countries, there growing demand for lower cost animal-protein sources. The fact that rabbits have early sexual maturity, short gestation and can be slaughtered for meat at as early as 74 days in addition to the fact that they require reduced living spaces and a relatively easy management with minimum environmental impact makes rabbit meat one of the best low-cost animal protein (Molina et al, 2015).…”