Abstract

NIEVES, Duilio et al. Studies on Digestive Processes in Fattening Rabbitts Given Tropical Foliage Based Diets: Faecal Digestibility. Rev. Cient. (Maracaibo) [online]. 2008, vol.18, n.3, pp.271-277. ISSN 0798-2259.

Faecal nutrient digestibility of five tropical foliages was determined in 72 New Zealand x California fattening rabbits of 45 days old fed diets containing forage from either Leucaena leucocephala, Trichanthera gigantea, Morus alba, Arachis pintoi or Ipomoea batatas. Nutrient digestibility indices were determined by a direct method (total collection). There were differences (P<0.01) for the organic matter digestibility (45.41, 37.38, 60.51, 48.25 and 37.58%), content of digestible energy (2092, 1860, 2378, 1981 and 1388 kcal/kg) and digestible protein (14.97, 12.49, 12.79, 13.90 and 6.74 g/kg) for L. leucocephala, T. gigantea, M. alba, A. pintoi and I. batatas, respectively. Overall, diets containing mulberry foliage or sweet potato forage determined the highest and lowest values for faecal digestibility, respectively. The content of energy digestible and protein digestible, and the digestibility of nutriments in L. leucocephala, T. gigantea, M. alba and A. pintoi foliage allow to suggest that they present an interesting nutritious potential and constitute usable ingredients in rabbits diets formulation.

Keywords : Nutrient digestibility; tropical foliages; fattening rabbits.