LOPEZ, O; MONTEJO, I. L    LAMELA, L. Evaluation of the nutritional potential of four forage plants for feeding rabbit does (Technical note). []. , 35, 3, pp. 293-300. ISSN 0864-0394.

A trial was conducted for 100 days, in order to determine the nutritional potential of mulberry (Morus alba Linn.), ramie (Boehmeria nivea L. Gaud), tree marigold (Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) Gray) and perennial soybean (Neonotonia wightii (Wight & Arn.) J.A.Lackey) forages for feeding does under production conditions during the rainy season. Sixteen clinically healthy crossbred does were used, with a parity between cero and two parturitions, an initial age of 8-14 months and an average weight of 2,6 kg (± 0,26). The design was completely randomized, with four treatments and four repetitions, respectively. The treatments consisted in supplying 1 kg of fresh forage from mulberry (T1), ramie (T2), tree marigold (T3) or perennial soybean (T4), with an age of 45-50 days, while perennial soybean was cut with a frequency of 75 days. The does were weighed weekly, and the offspring, at birth. The number of live young rabbits per parturition was controlled. The highest DM content was found in mulberry (26,4%) and perennial soybean (24,7%). The CP was higher in tree marigold (19,4%) and showed moderate values in mulberry and ramie (17,1 and 17,7%, respectively); the lowest value was found in perennial soybean (14,1%). The DMD was 77% for mulberry, higher than 70% in tree marigold and ramie, and 61% in perennial soybean. The highest weight increase corresponded to the does fed with perennial soybean forage (0,16 kg/animal), only treatment in which the does produced live offspring (4,9 live young rabbits/parturition). In addition, they had an average of 1,75 parturitions per doe during the evaluation. The results indicated that, from the four evaluated forages, only perennial soybean may be used as unique diet for does.

: feeding; Boehmeria nivea; Morus alba; Neonotonia wightii; rabbit does; Tithonia diversifolia.

        · |     · |     · ( pdf )