Replacement of barley grains and dehydrated alfalfa by Sulla Hay (Hedysarum flexuosum) and common reed leaves (Phragmites australis) in fattening rabbits diet

Abstract

Fifty-five Algerian white population rabbits were used to study the effect of the incorporation of Sulla hay (Hedysarum flexuosum) and common Reed leaves (Phragmites australis) in a pelleted feed on the growth of rabbits. At weaning (35 d), the rabbits were divided in two groups, individually caged and received ad libitum one of the two diets during 42 d. The control diet contained barley, dehydrated alfalfa, soya bean meal and wheat bran. The other diet (RS) was formulated to totally substitute barley and dehydrated alfalfa with Sulla hay and common Reed leaves. Feed intake increased distinctly in the RS group in the second period of fattening (150 vs 126). For the whole fattening period (35-77 d), growth rate was similar in the two groups (35.4 g/d) while the feed conversion was higher (p<0.01) in RS group (3.86 vs 3.23). This confirmed that using these fibre sources in a pelleted feed was valuable for fattening rabbit.

Keywords: Rabbit, Growth performances, Phragmites australis, Hedysarum flexuosum.