Effect of Morus alba feeding on growth and physiological parameters of rabbits

摘要

Eighteen rabbits (1O-week old) were allotted to three groups and fed with 100% Concehtrate (T_1), 60% concentrate+ad libitum feeding on Morus alba leaves (T_2) and 75% concentrate+ ad libitum feeding on M. alba leaves (T_3) for 90 days. The diet had a significant (P<0.01) effect on growth rate and daily dry matter consumption. However, body temperature and respiration rate were not observed to be significantly different. The rabbits reared under T_2 gained more (22.76+-0.70 g/d) with higher feed efficiency than the other two groups under study, probably due to a balanced diet with concentrate and roughage. Total body weight gain averaged as 943.75+-80.07, 1375.00+-62.90 and 1237.50+-90.32 g, respectively, for T_1, T_2 and T_3.