The effects of dried guava waste and dried olive cake as substitutes for alfalfa on rabbit farm profit

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of adding dried guava waste and dried olive cake as substitution of alfalfa in diet on rabbit farm profits.

Design: Randomized controlled experimental study.

Animals: Thirty-six Hypluse white rabbits at the age of 33 days with an average body weight of 696.6 g.

Procedures: Rabbits were allocated into four groups of nine animals each. Group 1 (Control group) was fed on a basal rabbit diet. Group 2 was fed on a diet containing 5% dried guava waste (DGW) as a substitute for alfalfa, Group 3 which was fed on a diet containing 5% dried olive cake (DOC) as a substitute for alfalfa, and Group 4 which received a diet containing combination of both 5% DGW and 5% DOC as a substitute for alfalfa.

Results: The addition of 5% DGW and 5% DOC in diets of rabbits as a substitute for alfalfa resulted in improvements in body weights of animals when compared to the basal diets, whereas the inclusion of the two materials in the diet of rabbits lowered the body weights of animals. The feed intake in group (two and three) was lower than that of the control group. Groups (two and three) showed lower values of feed costs, total variable costs and higher total return, and thus had higher values of profits when compared to the control group. Group four showed higher total variable costs and total costs, while the total return was the lowest and consequently the profit was the lowest also.

Conclusion and clinical relevance: The addition of either 5% DGW or DOC in diets of rabbits to substitute a portion of alfalfa appeared satisfactory for rabbit farm profit as their profit were higher than control group by 5.37 and 11.74 LE respectively, while their combination did not appear to be useful and therefore was not recommended.