Abstract

GARCIA-SANCHEZ, Andrea Alejandra et al. Performance and digestibility of rabbits fed diets containing different levels of Prosopis laevigata pods. Acta univ [online]. 2023, vol.33, e3561.  Epub Aug 14, 2023. ISSN 2007-9621.  https://doi.org/10.15174/au.2023.3561.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects on productive variables and in vivo digestibility of the inclusion of mesquite (Prosopis laevigata) pods in diets for growing rabbits. A production trial was carried out using thirty-six weaned-female rabbits in a completely randomized design assigned to one of three treatment diets containing different concentrations of ground mesquite pods (VMM): T1 (Diet without VMM), T2 (Diet 15% VMM), and T3 (Diet 30% VMM). Feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion, carcass yield, and in vivo digestibility of the diets were measured. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in daily weight gain, feed intake, carcass yield and dry matter digestibility between T1 and T3. Feed conversion ratio did not show significant differences among treatments (p < 0.05). Mesquite pods provide an adequate nutritional content to rabbit diets, and when used at 15%, they do not affect the productive variables and digestibility.

Keywords : Mesquite pods; rabbits; carcass yield.

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