SOYBEAN MEAL REPLACEMENT BY PROTEIC HYDROLYZED CATTLE HIDE SCRAP MEAL IN GROWING RABBIT DIETS

Abstract

In order to study the effect of replacing soybean meal by proteic hydrolyzed cattle hide scrap meal on the development and carcass yield of New Zealand White rabbits, a sample of 40 35-to-80-day-old males and females, distributed in randomized blocks, was used. Treatments consisted of a diet based on corn, wheat meal, oat hay, soybean meal, minerals and vitamins (T1), and other four in which proteic hydrolyzed cattle hide scrap meal replaced respectively 25% (T2), 50% (T3), 75% (T4) and 100% (T5) of soybean meal protein. The results of daily weight gain (g), daily feed intake (g), feed conversion, weight gain (g), and carcass yield (%) were respectively: T1 = 21.28, 90.27, 4.35, 1028 and 54.25; T2 = 24.19, 95.00, 4.00, 1099 and 55.00; T3 = 19.34, 80.10, 4.39; 965 and 52.72; T4 = 11.68, 65.89, 5.84, 802 e 52.06; T5 = 2.55, 53.01, 40.88, 615 and 50.99. The regression analysis showed a linear decrease (P < 0,01) in daily weight gain, daily feed intake, weight and carcass yield, when higher levels of proteic hydrolyzed cattle hide scrap meal were included. Replacing soybean meal protein by hydrolyzed cattle hide scrap meal protein up to 50% did not produce any effect (Dunnett test, P > 0.05) on weight gain, feed intake and carcass weight, indicating that this is the maximum optimal replacement level of soybean meal protein by hydrolyzed cattle hide scrap meal protein.