Utilization of Non Conventional Forages by Rabbits
Abstract
Twenty Newzealand white adult rabbits (2.94 kg; 17-18m in each group) were fed Subabui (Leucaena leucocephala) meal + concentrate mixture (T1), Hedge lucerne (Desmanthus vergatus) meal+ Concentrate mixture (T2), Red gram (Cajanus cajan) forage meal+ concentrate mixture (T3) and concentrate mixture only (T4), ad libitum in an experiment based on completely randomized design. In the 3 rations T1, T2 and T3 roughage: concentrate ratio was 70: 30. DM intake was comparable on ail the rations. Digestibilities of all the nutrients were signiricantly higher in group T (fed solely on concentrate mixture). EE digestibility was higher on ration T2 and T3 compared to ration T1 DCP (P<0.01) and TDN (P<0.05) values were significantly higher for ration T4 but comparable for the other 3 rations. N balance was positive on ration T4 but marginally negative on the other 3 rations. Hedge lucerne meal recorded significantly higher CP and EE digestibilities (P<0.0l) and DCP (P<0.05) content compared to subabui meal and red gram forage meal when calculated by difference method. DCP and TDN values obtained were 1.59 and 39.91 % for subabui meal, 4.52 and 45.06% for hedge lucerne meal and 1.85 and 47.55% for red gram forage meal, respectively.
