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An experiment was conducted to determine effects of graded levels of paddy rice supplemented to water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) or sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) vines as basal diets for growing New Zealand White rabbits on feed intake, digestibility, average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and economic returns. A total of 40 male growing rabbits at 8 weeks of age were equally divided into 2 main groups of 20 each to be fed on either of the two basal diets. Each of the two main groups were divided into 5 sub-groups (treatments) of 4 rabbits each to receive one of 5 graded levels of paddy rice, which were 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5% of live weight (LW). The rabbits were housed and fed in individual cages. The experiment lasted 10 weeks following 7 days of adaptation.

It was found that level of paddy rice supplementation had a highly significant effect on the intake of forage either in an obselute term (g/head/day) (P<0.001) or as percetage of LW (P<0.001) but without affecting total feed intake (P>0.05). The more paddy rice was supplemented the less forage was consumed. Paddy rice supplementation reduced digestibility (P<0.01) but improved feed utilization/lowered FCR (P,001), and increased ADG (P<0.001).

Significant differences between water spinash and sweet potato vines were found for basal diet intake (P<0.001) and FCR (P<0.05). Compared to sweet potato vines, water spinach was less consumed but better converted to weight gain with similar (P>0.05) digestibility. As a result, no significant effect of the type of basal diet on ADG was found (P>0.05).

No significant (P>0.05) interactions between level of paddy rice supplementation and type of forage (basal diet) were found for any observed parameters.

Key words: New Zealand White rabbits, paddy rice, supplementation, sweet potato vines, water spinach.


Figure 1: Relationship between proportion of paddy rice in the diet and live weight gain in rabbits fed a basal diet of sweet potato vines	Figure 2: Relationship between proportion of paddy rice in the diet and live weight gain in rabbits fed a basal diet of water spinach


Figure 3: Relationship between proportion of paddy rice in the diet and DM digestibility in rabbits fed a basal diet of sweet potato vines	Figure 4. Relationship between proportion of paddy rice in the diet and DM digestibility in rabbits fed a basal diet of water spinach

Effects of graded levels of paddy rice supplemented to water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) or sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) vines as basal diets on feed utilization and growth performance of New Zealand White rabbits

Nguyen Thi Duong Huyen, Nguyen Xuan Trach and T R Preston

Abstract