Abstract

NIEVES¹, Duilio; CORDERO, Jacknelly; TERAN, Omar  and  GONZALEZ², Carlos. Acceptability of diets with increasing levels of mulberry (Morus alba) in weaned rabbits. Zootecnia Trop. [online]. 2004, vol.22, n.2, pp.202-209. ISSN 0798-7269.

The acceptability of diets with increasing levels of mulberry (Morus alba) in weaned rabbits was evaluated. Forty eight new Zealand x California rabbits (736.97±75.42 g of live weight) were distributed in four treatments and 12 repetitions. The treatments were: T1= feed commercial in form of flour (FCF); T2= FCF + 10% of mulberry foliage (MF) + 8% of molasses; T3= FCF + 20% MF + 8% of molasses; T4= FCF + 30% MF + 8% of molasses. The consumption of the diets was measured during 12 days and the number of consumption intents every ten minutes for one hour after the supply. Analysis of variance for complete randomly design was applied and the averages were compared using Tukey test. For the diets consumption there were not differences (P>0.05) among treatments (730 ± 101; 666 ± 95; 623 ± 152; 605 ± 130 g/rabbit for T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively). The number of consumption intents was higher (P<0.05) when mulberry was not included (67 ± 15; 34 ± 11; 32 ± 11 and 26 ± 12 for T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively). However, there was not association (P>0,05) between both variables. The mulberry inclusion did not affect the consumption of the diet. It is recommended to carry out digestive and of animal response tests with diets that contain mulberry.

Keywords : rabbits feeding; Morus alba; acceptability.