Phyllite (rock dust) as inorganic mineral source in rabbit supplementation

Abstract

Rabbit farming is a growing activity, which implies need for precision nutrition aimed at best animal’s performance and health. Given some restrictions on the use of mineral sources in animal nutrition, inorganic supplementation with rock dust becomes an interesting alternative. The objective was to evaluate the effect of rock dust as an alternative source of inorganic balsistic mineral in nutrition. Three treatments were tested: (1) control group without addition of rock dust or phyllite, (2) kale group, treated with 13g of cabbage/animal/day and (3) phyllite group, treated with 1.5% rock dust addition. Eight animals per group were evaluated in vivo for weight gain, feed intake, shank thickness, average daily weight gain, calcium excretion by bromatology in feces and urine. After slaughter, carcass weight, shin bone weight, urine test and viscera weight were evaluated. There was an increase in weight gain in the animals with rock dust and greater weight in the shin bones; calcium excretion was higher in the kale and control group. There was no difference between the other variables. The use of rock powder proved to be efficient for a better minerals deposition and absorption in the bones.