Abstract

NIEVES, Duilio et al. Faecal digestibility of diets with tropical forages in rabbits: Comparison between direct and indirect methods. Bioagro [online]. 2008, vol.20, n.1, pp.73-75. ISSN 1316-3361.

A study  was carried out to compare the nutrient faecal digestibility in diets with tropical forages in fattening rabbits, determinated   by  total collection (direct) and acid-insoluble   ash (indirect)  methods. Seventy two new Zealand x California rabbits of 45 days of age, fed with diets that contained 30 % of leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala), trichanthera (Trichanthera gigantea), mulberry (Morus alba), peanut forage (Arachis pintoi) and sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) foliage were used. Rabbits were housed individually  in  cages  of  20 x 30 cm,  and  distributed  according  to  a  completely  randomized  design  with  six  treatments and 12 repetitions. The values obtained for dry matter (57.62 vs. 57.84 %), organic matter (59.97 vs. 60.21 %), energy (58.85 vs. 59.05 %), raw protein (71.03 vs. 71.15 %), neutral detergent fiber (35.40 vs. 35.82 %), acid detergent fiber (17.95 vs. 18.69 %) and hemicellulose digestibility (52.11 vs. 52.56 %) did not show statistical differences (P>0.10) between direct and indirect methods, respectively. Due to its simplicity and low cost, the acid-insoluble ash method constitutes a practical, reliable and applicable procedure for nutritional valuation of tropical forages for rabbits.

Keywords : Acid-insoluble ash; leucaena; trichanthera; mulberry; peanut forage; sweet potato.