Rabbit performance is affected by fibre source in the diet.

Abstract

18A 18A Rabbit performance is affected by fibre source in the diet A. Harries1, M. Choct1 and P. Pittolo 1Animal 2Millmaster 2 Science, University of New England, Armidale NSW 2351 Feeds, PO Box 281, Merrylands NSW 2160 The degree of carbohydrate fermentation in the gut has a major effect on the production level and health of the rabbit and is influenced by the level and the type of fibre present in the diet (Sakaguchi 1992). It appears that soluble and insoluble NSPs may have opposite e ffects because diets high in aciddetergent fibre (insoluble) promote better performance and health in rabbits than those high in neutral detergent fibre (partly soluble) (De Blas et al. 1995). We examined the effects of six fibre sources on the performance of meat rabbits at two ages in a 5week experiment. One group was introduced to the diets at five weeks of age and another at 8 weeks. Feed intake and liveweight gain were measured and feed conversion ratio calculated. The moisture content of the faeces was also determined during weeks 3 and 5. The performance data are shown in Table 1. Fibre source had no effect on feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion. Older rabbits ate more feed and converted it less efficiently.. There was a significant Diet x Age interaction showing that older rabbits had difficulty handling fibre from angustifolius lupin, which contained the highest level of soluble NSP (5%) among the fibre sources tested. Rabbits fed the diet containing copra meal had the wettest faeces (51% moisture), whereas those fed oat hulls had the driest faeces (38% moisture), indicating that fibre that is good for performance is not necessarily good for faecal consistency. Consistent and dry faeces are important for coprophagy and the overall hygiene of the shed environment. De Blas, J.C., Taboada, E., Mateos, G.G., Nicodemus, N. and Mendez, J. (1995). Effect of substitution of starch for fibre and fat in isoenergetic diets on nutrient digestibility and reproductive performance of rabbits. Journal of Animal Science 73, 11311137. Sakaguchi, E.I. (1992). Fibre digestion and digesta retention from different physical forms of the feed in the rabbit. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 102A, 559563. Table 1 Effect of fibre source on feed intakes and liveweight gains of rabbits and feed conversion ratios (FCR). Fibre source Albus lupin Copra meal Rice pollard Oat hulls Lucerne meal Angustifolius lupin Weekly intake (g) 882 910 822 902 851 830 908 920 866 909 868 790 0.29 0.71 0.98 Weekly gain (g) 274 253 237 233 266 264 226 205 228 232 185 147 0.35 0.00 0.04 FCR 3.22 3.60 3.47 3.87 3.20 3.15 4.02 4.49 3.80 3.91 4.70 5.36 0.68 0.00 0.15 Rabbit age 5 weeks 8 weeks Albus lupin Copra meal Rice pollard Oat hulls Lucerne meal Angustifolius lupin Probability (P = ) Diet Age Diet x Age Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition in Australia, Volume 12 (1999)