Nutrient Intake and digestibility of Rabbit does fed varying levels of concentrate and lablab during pregnancy

Abstract

Nulliparous crossbred does were used to study the effects of concentrate:lablab ratio (CL) and stage of pregnancy on nutrient intake and digestibility. Treatments consisted of four concentrate and lablab combinations on a gram:gram basis: 20:130, 40: 110, 80:70 and 100:50 and two stages of pregnancy: second and fourth week of pregnancy Concentrate intake increased as level increased up to 80g/day offered while lablab intake increased from 50 to 130g/day offered. Doe weight and metabolic size were similar for all treatments. Total feed intake was not affected by concentrate and lablab levels. Dry matter intake was lower for 100:50 CL than other treatments. Ether extract and crude fibre intakes decreased with increase in concentrate levels. Dry matter and nitrogen free extract digestibility were higher for 80:70 CL than other combinations. Crude fibre digestibility was higher for 80:70 than 40:110 and 100:50 CL Crude protein retention was higher for 80:70 than 20:130 and 100:50 CL. Fetal growth requirement, total protein requirement and balance of protein were high at 80:70 and 100:50 CL. During pregnancy, dry matter and all nutrients intake were higher in the second than fourth week. Ether extract, crude protein and nitrogen free extract digestibilities were lower in the second than fourth week of pregnancy. Fetal growth requirement and balance of protein were higher in the second than fourth week of pregnancy relationship between feed intake (g DM/day) and nutrient digestibility was negative. The relationship between feed intake (g DM/kg body weight/day) and feed intake (g DM/kg LW0.75/day) was however, positive for all the nutrients except crude protein. For the small scale rabbit producer in developing countries, it is feasible to maintain rabbits on combinations of concentrate and lablab during pregnancy