TIFTON 85 HAY (Cynodon spp.) FOR GROWING RABBIT: DIGESTIBILITY AND PERFORMANCE

Abstract

To evaluate the use of Tifton 85 hay for growing rabbits, two experiments were carried out. In the digestibility assay were used two diets, a reference diet and test diet in which Tifton 85 accounted for 30% as dry matter. This study was randomized with six replications and used twelve 50 day old White New Zealand rabbits. The Tifton 85 ration resulted in reduction of digestibility for crude energy and dry matter (P<0.05) but no significant difference was observed for crude protein digestibility (P>0.05). Data on digestible energy obtained from differences methodologies, were 971.06 and 782.55 kcal/kg, while digestible protein and digestible dry matter were 2.43% and 21.91%, respectively. The second experiment, designed to evaluate rabbit performance traits used Tifton 85 as the main source of fiber. A group of 32 White New Zealand, individually housed (from 30 to 72 days of age) were randomly distributed into two treatments with 16 replications. Two rations were offered to the rabbits: the commercial ration and the test ration containing Tifton 85 hay. Final weight, daily weight gain, food conversion and carcass yield were evaluated. No differences were observed for the performance traits. The use of Tifton 85 as a fiber source in rabbit diets seems promising.