Replacing concentrates with molasses blocks and protein-rich tree leaves for reproduction and growth of rabbits

摘要

ConventionalfeedsforcommercialrabbitproductioninVietnamareconcentratesandgrass.Increasingly,concentratesarebecomingmoreexpensiveandtheycompetewithhumanneedsastheyarebasedoncerealsandproteinmealssuchassoyabeanandfishmeal.Aproblemalsowithlocalproductionofconcentratesistheabsenceoffacilitiestomakequot;pelletsquot;andrabbitsdonotliketoeatfeedsintheformofmealorpowderbecausethefineparticlescauserespiratoryanddigestiveproblems.Thisstudyispartofaresearchprogrammethataimstodevelopfeedingsystemsthatuselocallyavailablefeedsaccessibletopoorfarmers.Thisstudyaimedtoevaluatemulti-purposetreessuchasMulberry(Morusindica)andTrichanteragigantea(introducedfromthecoffee-growingregionofColombia)assourcesofprotein;andmolasses,cassavarootmealandricebranassourcesofenergyproducedintheformofaquot;blockquot;toavoidthequot;dustquot;problem.Twoexperimentswerecarriedout.Experiment1wasinthereproduction/lactationphasewith20NewZealandWhitedoesinindividualcages.Experiment2wasduringgrowthandfattening(weaningto2kgbodyweight)with60weanedrabbitshoused5percage.Thetwotreatmentswerethesameinbothexperimentsandwere:concentratesandgrasses(control);amolassesblockandmixtureofleavesfrommulberryandtrichantera(70%)andgrasses(30%)(experimental).ThedietofmolassesblockandleavesfrommulberryandTrichantheragigantearesultedinbetterperformancethanthedietofconcentratesandgrass.Duringgestationandlactationthemolasses/leavesdietsupportedhigherbodyweightofdoes,heavierlittersatbirthandweaning,highermilkyield,betterfeedconversionandlowerfeedcosts;andduringgrowthandfattening,fastergrowth(by30%),betterfeedconversionandlowerfeedcosts.Itwasconcludedthatthenewsystemwaswellsuitedtofamilyscaleproduction.