R. Bras. Zootec.01/Jun/2002;31(3):1166-75.
Nutrients apparent digestibility in diets with different starch levels and fiber source for growing rabbits
DOI: 10.1590/S1516-35982002000500013
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the nutrients apparent digestibilities in growing rabbits fed diets with different starch levels (22 or 32% on average) by high or low inclusion of corn grain and different fiber sources (alfalfa hay or soybean hulls), in 2×2 factorial outline. The diets were pelleted and supplied to 64 New Zealand White rabbits (16 replicates per treatment), weaned at 34 days, housed individually in metabolism cages and allotted to a complete randomized design. Significant effects were not observed for the interaction between the starch levels and the fiber sources. The best digestibility was observed with high starch diets (73.56%DM, 74.30%OM, 71.51%CP, 63.89%GE, 95.08% starch, 45.87%NDF, 37.78%ADF, 55.57% hemicellulose, 39.86%cellulose), except for lipid fraction. On the other hand, the best digestibility of nutrients was observed with the diets containing with soybean hulls (72.37%DM, 73.06%OM, 69.10%CP, 61.74%GE, 76.84%EE, 95.10% starch, 47.00%NDF, 38.42%ADF, 55.51% hemicellulose, 42.42% cellulose). These results suggest that diets with high starch levels or soybean hulls can be used efficiently by rabbits, maintaining the nutritional recommendations.
Keywords: alfalfa hay; corn grain; digestibility; nutrition; rabbits; soybean hulls