Inclusion of Mulberry (Morus alba) in the Rabbit Fattening Diet (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55677/ijlsar/V02I11Y2023-05Keywords:
Forage, productive behavior, voluntary consumption, food conversion, carcass yield.Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of mulberry foliage (Morus alba) in the diet on productive variables and carcass yield in fattening rabbits. An animal behavior test was performed by using a completely random design with 36 weaning rabbits. Four treatments were established to include mulberry in the daily diet in concentrated proportions: mulberry foliage, provided for 42 days to rabbits in the fattening phase: T1: 100:0, T2: 80:20, T3: 60:40, and T4: concentrate: mulberry ad libitum. Food consumption, weight gain, feed conversion and carcass yield were measured. Significant differences (p < 0.01) were found in mulberry consumption, final live weight and food conversion. Daily weight gain, carcass yield, digestive tract weight and cecum showed no differences between treatments (p > 0.05). In the ad libitum treatment rabbits consumed about 20% of mulberry, and their level of inclusion in the diet can be 20 and 40% without effect on the behavior of productive variables.
References
Abubakar, M, Ibrahim, U, Yusuf, AU, Muhammad, AS, y Adamu, N. (2015). Growth performance, carcass and organ characteristics of growing rabbits fed graded levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal in diets. Bayero Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 8(2), 7-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bajopas.v8i2.2
Bamikole, MA, Ikhatua, MI, Ikhatua, UJ, Ezenwa, IV. (2005). Nutritive value of mulberry (Morus spp.) leaves in growing rabbits in Nigeria. Pakistán. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 4(4):231-236.
Bobadilla SY, Marchetta A, Dacar MA, Ojeda RA, Cuevas MF. 2020. Food habits of European rabbit and its role as seed dispersal of two Mosqueta roses: Facilitation among non-native species in a semiarid protected area of Argentina. Biological Invasions. 22: 1565-1571. ISSN: 1387-3547. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-020-02205-9
Canul, KLA, Lara, LPE, Aguilar, UE, Ortiz, JR, Magaña, MMÁ, y Sanginés, GJR. (2013). Uso del follaje de morera (Morus alba) o cayena (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) en la alimentación de conejas lactantes y su efecto sobre laproductividad. Revista Científica, XXIII(2), 126-133.
Castillo LG, Ramos, CL, Camacho, MRL, Avelar, LE, Sáenz, FE, y Buenabad, CL. (2022). Leucaena foliage (Leucaena esculenta) as a partial replacement for wheat in diets of fattening rabbits: performance and dressing percentage. Archivos Latinoamericanos De Producción Animal, 30(Supl. 1), 143-145. https://doi.org/10.53588/alpa.30051
Gidenne,T., García, J., Lebas, F., Licois, D. (2010). Nutrition and feeding strategy: interactions with pathology. In: de Blas C., Wiseman J. (ed). Nutrition of the rabbit. CAB International, Wallingford, UK, 179-199. doi:10.1079/9781845
Gutiérrez, R.E., Novelo, U.W., Martinez, R. P., y Segura, C. J. (2017). Effect of feed restriction on intake of Moringa oleifera and Leucaena leucocephala and growth performance of rabbits. Tropical animal health and production, 49, 1685-1688.
Hafsa SA, Salem AZM, Hassan, AA, Kholif, AE, Elghandour, MMY, Barbabosa, ALS. (2016). Digestion, growth performance and caecal fermentation in growing rabbits fed diets containing foliage of browse trees. World Rabbit Science. 24: 283-293. ISSN: 1257-5011. http://dx.doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2016.4359
Hernández, HE, López, OS, Villaruel, FM, Pérez, P, Velasco,V. J, Salinas, R.J. (2017). Feeding rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) with tree fruits from tropical deciduous forest. World Rabbit Science. 25: 135 - 145. ISSN: 1257-5011. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2017.3838
Herrera SI, García, FM, Soto SS, Zepeda, BA y Ayala MM. (2018). Aromatic plants in rabbit feeding and their effect on meat. Veterinary fan, 8(2), 81-87. https://doi.org/10.21929/abavet2018.82.7
Molina E, González, RP, Moreno, RR, Montero, QK, Sánchez, UA. (2018). Effect of the inclusion of Amaranthus dubius in diets on carcass characteristics and meat quality of fattening rabbits. Journal of Applied Animal Research. 46:218-223. https://10.1080/09712119.2017.1287078.
Mora, V.D. (2010). Uses of mulberry (Morus alba) in rabbit feeding. The role of fiber and protein in the digestive tract. Mesoamerican Agronomy, 21(2), 357-366. Santos-Ricalde, R.,
Mora. D. (2012). Evaluation of Four Levels of Mulberry (Morus Alba) in Rabbit Fattening under Organic Regulations. Inclusion of mulberry in alternative rabbit production. Agronomy Mesoamericana 23(2). Universidad de Costa Rica. P. 9.
Moreno Poveda, J. M. y Riaño Jiménez, F. Y. (2020) « Effect of supplementation with Sambucus nigra, oreado and silage, on productive and economic parameters of fattening rabbits», Revista U.D.C.A Actualidad & Divulgación Científica, 23(1). doi: 10.31910/rudca.v23.n1.2020.1468.
Nieves, D., Terán, O., Vivas, M., Arciniegas, G., González, C., y Ly, J. (2009). Productive Behavior of Rabbits Fed with Diets Based on Tropical Foliage. Revista Científica de veterinaria. Vol. XIX, Nº 2. P. 9
Osakwe II, Ekwe OO. 2017. Variation in relative palatability of different forages fed to rabbits. Animal Research International. 4: 608-610. eISSN: 1597-3115. https://doi.org/10.4314/ari.v4i1.40801
Ramos., C.M.E., Aguilar, U. E., Enrique L.P., Magaña, M.M. Á., Torres, L. M. A., y Sanginés, G. J. R. (2011) Feeding of rabbits with mulberry (Morus alba) or cayenne (Hisbicus rosa-sinensis) and its effect on the growth and morphology of the reproductive tract. Scientific Journal, XXI(6), 509-516.
Sanguinés, G, Lara, L, Rivera, L, Pinzón, L, Ramos, T, Maurillo, J, Fuentes, C, Azcorra, G. (2006). Advances in mulberry (Morus alba) research programs in Yucatán. http://www.fao.org/docrep/x3770t/3770t0.5.htm.
Valoy, B. L., del Toro, M. I., López, M. C., de la Ribera, J. L. R., Navarro, M. V., & Valdés, L. S. (2014). Inclusion of mulberry flour (Morus alba) in the productive performance of rabbits. Animal production magazine, 26(2).
Vivas, J., Reyes-Sánchez, N., Sáenz, A., & Benavidez, A. (2018) Productive behaviour and carcass characteristics of rabbits fed with Moringa oleifera flour. Revista Científica La Calera, 18(31), 81-88. doi: https://doi.org/10.5377/calera.v18i31.7897
