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Twelve young rabbits with average live weight of 713 g were allocated to four treatments in a 2*2 factorial arrangement with three replications in a randomized block design. The treatments were water spinach with: access to caecotrophes; plus rice bran and with access to caecotrophes; without access to caecotrophes (a plastic collar around the neck to prevent access to the anus); plus rice bran without access to caecotrophes. .
The water spinach offered had a a similar (about 50% of each) proportion of leaves and stems, while the refusals were much higher in stems, reflecting selection for the leaf component in the foliage consumed. Daily DM intakes of water spinach and rice bran were not affected by the rabbits having access or not to caecotrophes (see figure 1). Supplementation with rice bran led to decreased intake of water spinach but an increase in total DM intake. The growth rate was reduced by almost 50% when the rabbits were denied access to their caecotrophes (see figure 2). There were no apparent advantages in supplementing the water spinach with rice bran. Feed conversion rates tended to be better when the rabbits had access to caecotrophes. caecotrophes had lower contents of DM and crude fibre but almost 50% higher content of crude protein.
It is concluded that fresh water spinach can be given as the sole feed for growing rabbits; that there appears to be no advantage in supplementing it with rice bran; and that the practice of caecotrophy confers important nutritional benefits.