Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) Plant Meal in Rabbit Diets: Effects on Meat Quality and Heavy Metal Content

Abstract

The study sought to assess fatty acid profile, heavy metal concentration, carcass, and meat quality attributes of rabbits offered diets containing water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) plant meal (WHM) in place of wheat bran. It was conducted between August 2020 and February 2021. WHM replaced 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% of wheat bran in rabbit rations. The rabbits were slaughtered to assess the carcass and organ parameters. Data were analyzed using the Generalized Linear Model (GLM) of Minitab Statistical Package. There were no dietary effects on carcass and organ characteristics (p > 0.05). Fat content in meat, however, reduced as WHM increased. Consequently, overall likening of the meat of rabbits on the 15% WHM diets reduced. The heavy metal levels were lower (p > 0.05) than the permissible limits. Meat of animals on WHM diets had lower palmitic acid, higher MUFA and PUFA content, and a better atherogenic index.