STUDY THE EFFECTTS OF REPLACEMENT OF COMPLETE PELLETS FEED WITH PANICUM MAXIMUM IN THE DIET ON FEED UTILIZATION AND APERFORMANCES OF GROWING AND NEW ZEALAND RABBITS

Abstract

A feeding trial was carried out to determine effects of replacement of complete pellets feed with Panicum maximum at different levels in the diet on feed utilization and growth of exotic rabbits. A total of 40 growing New Zealand White rabbits from 40-45 days of age were randomly divided into 5 groups to be fed diets in which 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100% complete pellets feed was replaced with Panicum maximum. The sesults showed that growth, feed conversion ratio and feed intake  no significant different with control group (P> 0,05) when replacement at 25% of complete pellets feed by Panicum maximum. However, the increasing daily gain (ADG) degrease and feed conversion ratio (FCR) tended to increase with significanr different with control and group 1 (P>0,05) when the proportion of Panicum maximum was increased from 50, 75 to 100 % in the diet, especially for those fed totally on Panicum maximum. Nevertheless, the ADG and FCR were almost unaffected (P>0,05) when only 25% complete pellets feed was replaced with Panicum maximum. The weight and percentage of rear legs were not significantly influenced by the replacement; whereas, the proportion of visceral organs increased with the increased levels of Panicum maximum in the diet (P<0.05). It is therefore suggested that growing New Zealand White rabbits should not be fed totally on Panicum maximum, but complete pellets feed can be replaced up to 25% with it as this level of replacement appeared to result in better economic efficacy compared with 100% complete pellets feed in the diet.