Effect of tropical green forage Pueraria phaseoloides addition to a pelleted complete feed on rabbit growth performance and digestion

Abstract

<p>The aim of this work was to study the effect of tropical green forage on rabbit growth performance and apparent digestibility. Thirty rabbits weaned at 35 d of age were individually caged and allotted to 2 dietary treatments. From 35 to 90 d of age, the control group C was fed <em>ad libitum</em> with commercial pelleted diet C only, while the test group was fed the C diet and forage <em>Pueraria phaseoloides</em> (Pp) <em>ad libitum</em>. Individual water and feed intake, body weight gain, nutrient apparent digestibility, red and white blood cells were studied. Mean housing temperature was 27.7°C. Water intake (35-90 d) did not differ between the 2 groups (mean=128 mL/d), whereas feed intake (35-90 d) was twice as high, with Pp (114 vs. 56 g; P=0.02). Forage intake doubled every 2 wk, averaging 50% of the total intake from 35 to 90 d of age. The growth rate was higher (+30%) in the Pp group after weaning (35-49 d) but did not differ between groups thereafter. The feed conversion was higher for the Pp group after weaning only (+ 87%; P&lt;0;05). Weight of rabbits and feed efficiency were not affected by forage addition. Organic matter digestibility of diet C alone was roughly twofold higher compared to C+Pp (P=0.03). Red blood cells were not affected by treatments (4.1×10¹² cells/L). However, the white blood cell count was higher in Pp than in C group (7.4×10⁹ vs. 3.9×10⁹ cells/L; P&lt;0.01). <em>P. phaseoloides</em> may be used as a complement to a balanced pelleted feed, but further studies with a large number of rabbits are necessary to analyse the potential impact on health status.</p>