Effects of dietary inclusion of dried Kochia indica Wight tree foliages on growth performance and nutrient digestibility of growing rabbits

Abstract

This study presents an experimental investigation of the dietary inclusion effect of dried Kochia indica Wight (K) tree foliages on growth performance and nutrient digestibility of growing rabbits. Four experimental diets were prepared in which 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the berseem hay (Trifolium alexandrinum L., Egyptian clover) in the control (K0) diet was replaced by dried Kochia foliages and designated as K25, K50, K75 and K100, respectively. Live weight at 6th, 7th and 8th weeks of age for K25, K50, K75 and K100 diet fed rabbits were similar to the K0 while other diets aside K25 reduced the live body weight and final live body weight. Total body weight gain between week (6–13 weeks of age) was higher (P < 0.05) in K25 diet while other treatments were lower than K0. Total feed consumption of K0, K25 and K50 were similar. The overall feed conversion ratio of K0 and K25 were similar but higher (P < 0.05) in K50, K75 and K100. Performance index (PI) was the highest in groups fed the K0 and K25 diets and there were 36.4, 32.7 and 30.98% decrease in K50, K75 and K100 fed groups respectively. In conclusion, dried Kochia could be replaced up to 25% of the dietary berseem hay in growing rabbit diets without any obvious negative effects from the practical point of view on growth performance, nutrients evaluation, digestibility and productivity.