Can banana peel and sweet potato vines serve as efficient feed ingredients in diets for growing rabbits?

This study aimed to evaluate the use of banana peel (BP) and sweet potato vines (SPV) as a replacement for maize and alfalfa hay in diets for rabbits. Animal performance, economic analyses, meat composition, and color were evaluated for 49 days in a total 50 New Zealand White rabbits weaned at 35 days with an average body mass of ± 614 g. The animals were allotted, in a completely randomized design, having five dietary groups: control diet (0), without banana peels and sweet potato vines, or experimental diets, 25, 50, 75, and 100-with 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of banana peels and sweet potato vines in substitution to maize and alfalfa hay, respectively. The data were analyzed using ANOVA, while the means were compared by Tukey test (p < 0.05). The results indicate that daily feed intake, mass gain, and feed conversion were not statistically different from one another in the test groups compared to the control group treatment. In addition, the study shows no differences were observed in centesimal compositions and muscle color. The replacement of maize and alfalfa hay by the combination of BP and SPV resulted in reduction in feed costs, reaching 50% in the experimental diet with 100% of substitution the ingredients. It can be concluded, based on the results on animal performance, meat/color composition, and economic analyses, that BP and SPV may be used as a substitute for maize and alfalfa hay up to 100% in diets for growing rabbits.

Performance, meat characteristics and economic viability of rabbits fed diets containing banana peel.

In developing countries, agricultural areas are used to grow ingredients for rabbits' nutrition instead of food for the human population. In this context, in places where people starve, it is unreasonable to use ingredients, such as maize, in rabbits' diets. This research aimed to evaluate performance, meat composition and coloration, and economic viability in rabbits fed with diets containing banana peel (BP) in substitution to maize. Forty-five White New Zealand rabbits were used; they were weaned at 35 days old and divided into five treatments in a completely randomized design. The animals were fed with some of the following diets: control diet (0BP)-without banana peel; experimental diets: 25BP, 50BP, 75BP and 100BP-with 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of banana peel in substitution to maize, respectively. Means were compared through analysis of variance, followed by Tukey test (0.05). Results indicate there were no differences in performance and meat parameters. Banana peel inclusion resulted in lower costs. Therefore, banana peel can replace maize up to 100% in diets for rabbits with no loss in performance and meat composition, representing a promising alternative in rabbits' nutrition.

Sweet potato vines in diets for growing rabbits on performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality.

The use of residues as substitutes for conventional ingredients in animal feed is a promising alternative able to reduce both costs and environmental pollution. This study aimed to evaluate the viability of using sweet potato vines (SPV) as a replacement for alfalfa hay in diets for growing rabbits. The performance, carcass characteristics, meat composition and metabolic parameters of the liver were evaluated in 30 New Zealand rabbits weaned at 35 days old and an average weight of 900 g. The animals were allotted into three dietary groups: 0SPV, control diet without SPV; 50SPV, diet with 50% replacement of alfalfa hay by SPV; 100SPV, diet with 100% replacement of alfalfa hay by SPV. The animals were slaughtered at 77 days of age. The liver was collected for analysis of glucose and hepatic glycogen and meat samples were collected for analysis of the chemical composition. The data obtained were statistically compared by analysis of variance followed by the Tukey test (0.05). None of the analyzed variables presented differences. It can be concluded, therefore, that SPV may be used as a substitute for alfalfa hay up to 100% in diets for rabbits without impairing the performance and meat composition.

Casca de soja em dietas para coelhos em crescimento / Soybean hulls on diets for growing rabbits

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar efeitos da inclusão de casca de soja em substituição ao feno de alfafa sobre o desempenho, características da carcaça e trato gastrointestinal e parâmetros bioquímicos de coelhos em fase de crescimento. Foram utilizados 30 coelhos da raça Nova Zelândia Branca, divididos igualmente em três tratamentos, compostos pela dieta experimental padrão (sem inclusão de casca de soja); e pelas dietas com 50% e 100% de substituição de alfafa por casca de soja nas respectivas rações experimentais. Concluiu-se que a casca de soja pode ser incluída em dietas para coelhos em crescimento, em substituição ao feno de alfafa em até 100% sem causar danos no desempenho nas características de carcaça e do trato gastrointestinal e parâmetros bioquímicos dos animais, durante a fase de crescimento. Porém, a utilização deste co-produto exige a necessidade de estudos mais aprofundados em virtude da escassez de dados.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of inclusion of soybean hulls in the replacement of alfalfa hay on performance, of growing rabbits. A total of 30 rabbits of New Zealand White kind were divided into three treatments, experimental compounds in the pattern diet (without inclusion of soybean hulls), and the diets with 50% and 100% replacement of alfalfa by soybean hulls in their experimental diets. It was concluded that the soybean hulls can be included on replace of alfafa hulls up 100% in rabbits diets. However, the use of co-product in animal nutrition need more detailed studies because of the paucity of data.

Bagaço de uva como ingrediente alternativo no arraçoamento de coelhos em crescimento / Grape marc as alternative ingredient in feeding of growing rabbits

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar efeitos da inclusão do bagaço de uva em substituição ao feno de alfafa sobre desempenho, rendimento de carcaça e parâmetros morfohistológicos do trato gastrointestinal de coelhos em fase de crescimento. Foram utilizados 30 coelhos da raça Nova Zelândia Branca divididos igualmente em três tratamentos, compostos pela dieta experimental padrão (sem inclusão de bagaço de uva); e pelas dietas com 25% e 50% de substituição de alfafa por bagaço de uva nas respectivas rações experimentais. A inclusão de bagaço de uva causou aumento linear no consumo total de ração e no ganho de peso. A presença em maior proporção dos ácidos graxos essenciais ômega3 e ômega6 nos tratamentos T25BU e T50BU promoveu melhores respostas zootécnicas, uma vez que esses nutrientes agem positivamente no equilíbrio homeostático. Os resultados morfohistológicos demonstraram que a altura das vilosidades intestinais do ceco aumentou com a inclusão de bagaço de uva na dieta, possuindo correlação positiva. A inclusão de bagaço de uva em dietas para coelhos na fase de crescimento altera o desempenho dos animais, aumentando o consumo total de ração e o ganho de peso. Evidenciou-se também que o aumento desse co-produto melhora as características morfológicas das vilosidades intestinais referentes ao ceco.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of inclusion of grape pomace as a replacement for alfalfa hay on performance, carcass yield and morpho hitological parameters of the gastrointestinal tract of rabbits during the growth phase. A total of 30 rabbits of New Zealand White equally divided into three treatments: experimental compounds by standard diet (without inclusion of grape pomace), and the diets with 25% and 50% replacement of alfalfa by grape pomace in the respective experimental diets. The inclusion of grape pomace caused a linear increase in total feed intake and weight gain. The presence in a greater proportion of essential fatty acids in treatment with Omega3 and omega6 T25BU and T50BU best responses promoted husbandry, since these nutrients act positively in the homeostatic equilibrium. The morphohistological results showed that the height of the intestinal villi cecum increased with the inclusion of dietary grape pomace , showing a positive correlation. The inclusion of grape pomace in diets for rabbits in the growth phase alters their performance, increasing the total feed intake and weight gain. It also showed that increasing this co-product improves the morphology of the cecum intestinal villi.

Casca de soja em substituição ao feno de alfafa em dietas fareladas para coelhos em crescimento / Soybean hulls in the replacemennt of alfafa hay in diet non pelleted for growing rabbits

O presente trabalho foi realizado no período de 16 de novembro a 28 de dezembro de 2009, totalizando 42 dias. Foram utilizados 36 animais distribuídos em três tratamentos de 12 repetições cada, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Os tratamentos consistiram de TA =dieta sem inclusão de casca de soja (CS); TACS=dieta com inclusão de 50% de casca de soja e TCS=dieta com inclusão de 100% de casca de soja em substituição ao feno de alfafa. As dietas foram isonutritivas, formuladas para atender às necessidades da categoria correspondente, de acordo com o AEC (1987). Foram avaliados os dados de desempenho animal, as características de carcaça e a viabilidade econômica. Os resultados foram submetidos à analise de variância e as médias comparadas pelo teste de Tukey a 5% de significância, com auxílio do pacote estatístico SAS (2003). Houve diferença para o consumo alimentar e conversão alimentar, já que os animais alimentados com TCS consumiram menos ração que os do TA e apresentaram melhor conversão. Para as características de carcaça, não houve diferença entre os tratamentos, com exceção do peso de pele, que foi superior para os animais alimentados com a dieta TA. O índice de eficiência econômica demonstrou que a casca de soja pode substituir em 100% o feno de alfafa.

The experiment was conducted from November 16 to December 28, 2009, add up 42 days. 36 animals of 35 days old were utilized and assigned to three treatments of 12 repetitions each in experimental design completely randomized. The treatments were: TA=Soybean hulls without; TACS=inclusion soybean hulls 50% and TCS=inclusion soybean hulls 100% substitution of Alfalfa at diet. The diets were isonutritives, formulated by requirement AEC (1987). The avaluated parameters were: performance animal, characteristics carcass and analyze economical. Data were analized by analysis of variance and the average compared by Tukey test (P<0.05). Values differences were detected for average feed intake and feed conversion ratio, where rabbits to feeding diets with TCS had consumption lower that to TA and showed better conversion. For the carcass characteristics effects of inclusion of soybean hulls were no significant, with exception of weight epidermis had higger for animals fed with diet TA. The economical analysis of the results showed that the formulation with soybean hulls will be to substitute the alfafa until 100%.