<b>Nutritional evaluation of raw or extruded triticale for growing rabbits</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v26i1.1931

Abstract

Two experiments were carried out to determine nutritional value and verify the performance of growing rabbits fed rations containing increasing levels of raw or extruded triticale. In a digestibility assay 21 rabbits New Zealand White breed, 15 males and 6 females, with 55 days old, allocated in a completely randomized design with three treatments and seven replications, with one reference diet and two test diets. In the elaboration of test diets, the feeds evaluated (raw or extruded triticale) replaced 30% of the reference diet. The digestibility coefficients of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, starch and gross energy were respectively, 86.42%, 98.42%, 99.30%, 99.77% and 96.96% for the triticale and of 85.89%, 97.39%, 94.58%, 99.67% and 96.65% for the extruded triticale. The digestible dry matter, digestible organic matter, digestible protein, digestible starch and digestible energy, based on dry matter were respectively, 75.48%, 96.46%, 14.17%, 60.2% and 4210 Kcal/kg for the triticale and of 75.02%, 95.45%, 13.49%, 60.14% and 4197 Kcal/kg for the extruded triticale. In the performance experiment were used. 98 White New Zealand rabbits, 49 males and 49 females, 35 days old, allocated in a completely randomized design, with seven treatments and 14 replications. The treatments consisted a control ration based not processed corn grain and other six rations where corn grain was replaced in levels of 33, 66 and 100% by raw or extruded triticale. The regression analyses did not show effect (P>0,05) of replacement of corn by increasing levels of raw or extruded triticale on performance and carcass in growing rabbits. It can be concluded that raw or extruded triticale can replace totally the corn in rations. The use of raw or extruded triticale in rations depends on market price and availability.