Tropical forages as a dietary alternative in fattening rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of the tropical forages morera (Morus alba L.), caraca (Erythrina poeppigiana (Walp.) O.F.Cook and gold button (Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray) as an alternative food source for fattening rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.) and its effect on their productive behavior. The experiment was carried out in the minor species program of Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo, Ecuador. In this study we evaluated New Zealand male rabbits of 35 days of age and with an average weight of 74.23 ± 75.47 g, distributed in four treatments with six replicates in a complete block design. Treatments evaluated were as follows: T1: commercial concentrate ad libitum (control); T2: commercial concentrate 50 g + morera ad libitum; T3: commercial concentrate 50 g + caraca ad libitum, and T4: commercial concentrate 50 g + gold button ad libitum. To identify significant difference among treatments, an analysis of variance and a Tukey’s multiple range test were carried out to compare the mean values of treatments. Variables measured were as follows: feed intake (FI); growth rate (GR); feed conversion rate (FCR); weight to channel (WC), performance to channel (PC) and profitability. Results show that the highest FI was recorded by T1, T2 and T4 (83.92 ± 4.31, 83.90 ± 1.08 and 81.72 ± 2.85 g dry matter.d-1, respectively); highest GR was found in T1 (28.81 ± 2.55 g); most efficient FCR was T1, T2 and T3 (2.93 ± 0.27, 3.34 ± 0.28 and 3.23 ± 0.19, respectively); and most efficient PC was T3 (56.00 ± 1.11 %) being also the most profitable (53 %).