Effect of Sprouted Trigonella foenum graecum L. Incorporation into the Diet on Milk Production of Rabbit Does and Growth of Young Rabbits in the Northeast of Algeria

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of sprouted fenugreek incorporation into the diet of rabbits on their dairy and growth performances. Data from 24 lactations performed by 8 Californian rabbit does were studied. They were divided into 2 homogeneous groups, a control (batch C) having received an ordinary ration and an experimental (batch E) having received the same ration supplemented with sprouted fenugreek. Growth rates of suckling pups were also recorded. Then, Growth performance of 152 young rabbits’ issue from these females was monitored. They were divided into 4 homogeneous groups, one control having received an ordinary diet (batch C) and 3 experimental having received the same diet with substitution of 12%, 15% and 25% (batch E1, E3 and E3) of the concentrate by sprouted fenugreek. The results showed an improvement in the dairy performance of the rabbit does of batch E, with an average peak lactation of 287 g/d vs 236 g/d in batch C (p <0.01). The daily weight gain of suckling pups was better in batch E (13 g/d vs 11.7 g/d; p <0.01). Likewise, the weaned young rabbits of the experimental batches recorded higher growth rates than the control batch (p <0.01). Sprouted fenugreek incorporation into the rabbit’s ration allowed to improve their performances.