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Livestock-Based Farming Systems, Renewable  Resources and the Environment

  

Growth performance of New Zealand White rabbits fed sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) vines supplemented with paddy rice or Guinea grass supplemented with commercial concentrate

Ly Thi Luyen and T R Preston*

GRRC, NIAS, Bavi, Vietnam
*UTA, AA#48 Socorro, Colombia

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Goat and Rabbit Research Centre to determine effects on feed intake, average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and economic returns of New Zealand White rabbits of two feeding systems: sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) vines with supplementation of paddy rice and Guinea grass plus commercial concentrate.  There were 5 levels of supplement (paddy rice or concentrate0: 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 g/head/day.  A total of 30 male growing rabbits at 6 weeks of age were equally divided into 2 main groups of 15 each to be fed on either of the two basal diets. Each of the two main groups were further divided into 5 sub-groups (treatments) of 3 rabbits each. The rabbits were housed and fed in individual cages. The experiment lasted 10 weeks following 7 days of adaptation. The system of sweet potato vines and paddy rice supported higher growth rates and better feed conversion than Guinea grass plus concentrates (Figures 1 and 2).  In both systems the feed conversion became worse as the level of supplement increased.

 

Figure 1. Growth rates of rabbits on two feeding systems: sweet potato vines with paddy rice versus Guinea grass with concentrates Figure 2. DM feed conversion of rabbits on two feeding systems: sweet potato vines with paddy rice versus Guinea grass with concentrates
Key words: Feed conversion, forages,