Effects of replacing arachispintoi for brachiariamutica in diets on feed utilization, nutrient digestibility, growth rate and carcass values of Californian rabbits

Abstract

A study was conducted at the Experimental farm in Long Hoa commune, Binh Thuy district, Can Tho city to evaluate effects of different replacement levels of Arachis pintoi (AP) for Para grass in diets on feed utilization, apparent nutrient digestibility, growth performance, and economic retums of growing Califomian rabbits. The trial was a completely randomized design with 5 treatments and three replications. The treatments were 5 levels of 0, 25, 50, 75 and l00% Arachis pintoi replacing Para grass (correspondings to the AP0, AP25, AP50, AP75 and APl00 treatments). There were 4 growing Califomian rabbits at 6 weeks of age (balance for sex) per experimental unit and the experimental time lasted in l0 weeks. The apparent nutrient digestibility and nitrogen retention were also measured in 7 days as the rabbits being 11 weeks of age. The results showed that PC intakes gradually decreased with increasing levels of AP in the diets, while AP intakes increased (P<0.05). The daily intakes of DM, CP and ME were significantly higher (P<0.05) for the AP75 treatment. The Califomian rabbits fed 75% AP in the diet (AP75) had the highest daily weight gain and carcass values (P<0.05). The DM, OM, CP, EE and NDF digestibility coefficients and nitrogen retention were improved (P<0.05) with increasing levels of AP offered. The conclusion was that Arachis pintoi could be used as feed for Califomian rabbits. At level of 75% Arachis pintoi replacing para grass had higher growth performance, carcass values, nutrient digestibility and gave better profits.