Abstract
Aim:The aim of this study was to determine the effects of incorporating the by-products complex of date and apricot on the fattening performance of the New Zealand breed of rabbits, to reduce the economic costs of the food formula.Materials and Methods:A total of 288 young New Zealand rabbits aged 35 days were divided into four equal groups each containing 72 animals and into sub-groups of 6 rabbits per cage, depending on the rate of substitution of corn by date rebus and of soybean meal by apricot kernel meal (0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%).Results:The change in weight from day 35 to 77 and the average daily gain are not significantly different, regardless of the diet. The pH and water content are proportional to the substitution rates (6.4-6.6% and 66.5-68.8%). Meat protein levels increased significantly, in particular for the 10% and 30% groups (+8.1% and 6%) while the fat and mineral content levels decreased significantly, in particular for the 30% group displaying −16% and −17%, respectively. Incorporation of dates and apricot kernel meal into the ration of rabbits reduces the cost of the kilogram of food produced of −9%, with an opportunity cost of 165 Algerian dinars (DZD).Conclusion:The date rebus/apricot kernel meal complex can be used as an alternative to the corn/soybean meal complex at substitution rates of up to 30% without adverse effects on growth rates, feed contribution, or slaughter yield. It improves the chemical composition of the meat and reduces the cost price of the quintal of feed produced.
Highlights
The breed of rabbits imported by Algeria is primarily the New Zealand breed
The feed rations of rabbits during the fattening stage essentially consist of soybean meal and corn, raw materials that are imported by Algeria in their
The aim of this study is to determine the effects of incorporating both “date rebus” and “apricot kernel meal” in the diet of the imported breed (New Zealand) during the fattening phase of young rabbits weaned at 35 days
Summary
The breed of rabbits imported by Algeria is primarily the New Zealand breed. These rabbits were imported with a view to improving the local breed and ensuring both a qualitative and quantitative diversification of the meat. The use of unconventional foodstuffs is one of the alternatives that can be adopted to reduce production costs [3,4,5]. Speaking, it would provide the poorer strata of the population with cheap access to animal proteins. The feed rations of rabbits during the fattening stage essentially consist of soybean meal and corn, raw materials that are imported by Algeria in their
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