Effect of Diet Pelleting on Growth, Feed Efficiency and Viability of the Rabbit in a Tropical Breeding Environment

One hundred and forty-four young rabbits were used from weaning (34-36 days old) to study growth, feed efficiency and viability in relation to the diet presentation: pelleted or as a flour. The experiment was carried out in three farms (CECURI, GAVA and AHINADJE), with 48 young rabbits in each farm, divided into two groups of 24 animals: an experimental group fed a pellet diet and a control group fed the same diet but in a flour form. Weights and feed intake were measured weekly during the eight-week fattening period, and mortality was checked daily. During fattening (56 days), the young rabbits fed the pelleted diet had a higher (P < 0.001) growth rate (24 g/d) than those fed the flour diet (22 g/d). During the first four weeks, the pelleted diet was more consumed (+ 18%), less rejected (- 77%), with a lower consumption index (- 20%) than the flour diet (P < 0.001). The consumption index (5.2) and feed intake (92 g) were similar during the last four weeks (P > 0.05). On the other hand, the pelleted diet was less rejected (P < 0.001) than the flour diet (1 g vs 4 g). Finally, the mortality rate was lower (15.28 %) in the groups of young rabbits that received the pelleted diet than in those that received the flour diet (46%).