Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Dried artichoke bracts in rabbit nutrition: Effects on performance and apparent digestibility

Author(s):

Sihem Dabbou ^{1, 3}*, Pier Giorgio Peiretti ², Francesco Gai ², Samia Dabbou Fekih ¹, Luca Rotolo ³, Ahmed Noureddine Helal ^{1, 4}, Ivo Zoccarato ³, Laura Gasco ³

Recieved Date: 2014-02-10, Accepted Date: 2014-04-12

Abstract:

Artichoke bracts (AB) have high nutritive value and are available in large quantities after industrial processing. The present research was designed to study the effects of AB supplementation in the diets of growing rabbits on their performance and apparent digestibility. Total of 120 weaned, crossbred (Grimaud × Hycole) rabbits aged thirty eight days and weighing on average 1041 ± 107 g, were kept in individual cages and divided into 3 groups of 40 animals each. Animals were fed ad libitum three diets: without AB (AB0) and with two different contents of AB (AB1 and AB2 - 50 and 100 g/kg, respectively). The effects on growth performance and nutritive values were studied over 58 days. An in vivo apparent digestibility trial was conducted at 51 days of age, and the digestion coefficients were calculated by the indirect digestibility method, using acid insoluble ash as an inert marker. Results showed that the final weight, weight gain, feed intake, and the CP apparent digestibility coefficient did not differ among the dietary treatments. However, significant differences (P < 0.01) were observed in the feed conversion rate and in all apparent digestibility coefficients among the group without AB and the two supplemented groups. Artichoke bract is a valid feed ingredient due to its good chemical composition, and has potential as an effective supplement for rabbits at levels of up to 100 g/kg in the diet. In particular, the best digestible energy (P = 0.004) and digestibility coefficients for dry matter, organic matter, ether extract and fibre fractions (P value ranged from 0.002 to 0.000) were found in rabbits fed a 50 g/kg diet.

Keywords:

Rabbit, artichoke bracts, growth rate, digestibility, feed intake

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2014
Volume: 12
Issue: 2
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 443-446

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