Protein and energy partitioning for growth by rabbits fed soybean cheese waste diet and lablab hay

Abstract

Thirty crossbred rabbits were randomly allocated to five treatment combinations of soybean waste meal and lablab forage hay in a completely randomized design. The treatments comprised graded levels of soybean cheese waste meal diet (SCW) and lablab hay (LH) on a gram: gram basis: 1) 100g SCW: 60g LH (100:60S), 2) 75g SCW: 85g LH (75:85S), 3) 50g SCW: 110g LH (50:110S), 4) 25g SCW: 135g LH (25:135S), 5) 100g rabbit diet: 60g LH (100:60R,control). This gives a total feed supply of 160g/rabbit/day. Metabolic weight gain, empty body gain and composition of gain were significantly (p<0.001) higher for rabbits on 100:60S than 100:60R (control) and decreases with decrease in level of soybean cheese waste diet. Digestible crude protein (DCP) intake was higher (p<0.05) for the control (100:60R) than the SCW levels. DCP maintenance (DCPm) was significantly (p<0.05) lower for rabbits on 50:110S than 100:60S but similar for all other treatments. DCP content of gain, total DCP required for protein synthesis decreased significantly (p<0.001) as level of SCW decreased and LH increased and was higher for 100:60S than the control and other levels. Efficiency of DCP utilization for growth decreased as SCW level decreased and ranged between 0.41-0.85. Digestible energy (DE) intake of rabbits was significantly higher (p<0.001) on 25:135S and lower for 100:60S. More DE was retained as protein, fat and for growth by rabbits on 100:60S than the control and other SCW levels. DE. DE requirement for protein, fat, growth and total energy required for growth also decreased with decrease in level of SCW. The control and 75:85S rabbits significantly had higher DE requirement than 25:135S. Efficiency of DE utilization for growth was similar for the control, 100:60S and 75:85S than 25:135S. Efficiency of DE utilization ranged between 0.21-0.24 and was lowest on 25:135S.