Effects of different sources of supplementary fibre on growth of rabbits fed a basal diet of fresh water spinach

Khuc Thi Hue

Goat and Rabbit Research Center, Sontay, Hatay, Vietnam
hienhue02@yahoo.com

Introduction

In recent years, rabbit husbandry has developed quickly due to demand of fresh food for human consumption. Furthermore, it is becoming a popular animal because of specific characteristics of suitable feeding behaviour in integrated farming systems.

The rabbit (Oryctotagus cuniculus) is a pseudo-ruminant, raised widely in developing countries such as Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Its production contributes to improved nutrition and economy in the family as a source of animal protein, as well as extra income by sale of animals.  Rabbits can be fed many kinds of grasses (eg: guinea grass), legumes (eg: stylosanthes), vegetables (eg: water spinach, sweet potato vines), leaves from trees, fruits (eg: bananas), roots and tubers (eg: cassava, sweet-potatoes) and by-products from the kitchen.

Concerning the nutritional requirement of rabbits, they require diets with moderate to high levels of fibre (at least 15 to 20% in DM), moderate protein (12 to 15% in DM), low fat and having an abrasive action on the teeth (Anon 2001). There are several kinds of available protein-rich forages in Lao such as water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) and Stylo grass (Stylosanthes) (Hongthong Phimmmasan et al 2004).Water spinach was reported to have a very high biomass yield and around 28% crude protein, 12% crude fibre and 19% ash in DM of fresh leaves and stems (Ho Bunyeth and Preston 2004; Ly Thi Luyen 2004). Water spinach has a short growth period and is resistant to common insect pests. It can grow both in soil and in water and it is very easy to grow by farmers. People and animals use it traditionally in tropical regions for consumption. Some researches showed that using water spinach as a protein source for Ba Xuyen pigs and Large White sows has given good results in feed intake and digestibility (Le Thi Men et al 1999). Research in Vietnam showed that rabbits grew at 18 to 30 g/day when fed fresh water spinach and a concentrate supplement (Tran Hoang Chat et al 2005). In research reported by Samkol el al (2004), growth rates were between 12 and 18 g/day on diets composed only of water spinach. For this reason, water spinach now is considered a feed resource with high potential for rabbits.

The results found by Samkol (2004) informed that, t