Response of growth rate in rabbits to paddy rice given as a supplement to either water spinach or water hyacinth leaves                            

Bui Phan Thu Hang, Vo Lam and T R  Preston

Angiang University, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Vietnam
bpthang@agu.edu.vn

Abstract

Thirty weaned crossbred rabbits (New Zealand x local female) 8 weeks of age were used to evaluate the effects of supplementation levels of paddy rice on rabbits performance based on a basal diet of fresh water spinach or water hyacinth leaves. The design was a 2*5 factorial the factors being: (i) Water spinach (WS) or a 50:50 mixture of leaves of Water hyacinth  and water spinach (WSWH) ; (ii) Levels of paddy rice (PR)supplementation (g/day): 0, 5, 10, 20 and 35. The  foliages were offered ad libitum.

There was a linear effect of paddy rice on growth rate up to 20 g/day after which it decreased on the water spinach diet. Growth rates were lower when water hyacinth leaves were mixed with the water spinach.

Key words: Growth,, live weight gain, paddy rice, water hyacinth leaves

Figure 1. Effect of paddy rice supplementation on growth rates oof rabbits fed basal diets of water spinach (WS) or a mixture of leaves of water hyacinth and water spinach