THE ROLE OF FIBER IN RABBIT NUTRITION

One hundred Dutch rabbits were given a range of diets between 4 and 12 weeks of age, based on feed mixture and lucerne, containing from 12.0 to 19.14 % CF to clarify the level of CF of which deviation growth wa s retarded. The five tested groups were assigned the following treatme nts at the age of 4 to 12 weeks: Group 1 fed only feed mixture without hay meal, Group 2 20 % hay meal, Group 3 40 % hay meal and Group 4 60 hay meal, Group 5 fed on 0, 20, 40 and 60 % hay meal during the fortn ightly periods (4-6, 6-8, 8-10 and 10-12 weeks) experimental periods r espectively. The rest of the feed in the treatment was feed mixture. H ighest growth rates were recorded by rabbits of group 2 (14.38 % CF) f ollowed by group 5 (graduated hay levels) and the daily feed consumpti on was increased by increasing the hay level, but it decreased in grou p 5 (0, 20, 40 and 60 % hay). Rabbits receiving the control feed mixtu re diet (CFM) and that of 20 % lucerne recorded the best feed conversi on, while that of 60 % lucerne (19.4 % CF) recorded the worst, and gro up 5 recorded the intermediate value, being 16.3 % less than that of F M treatment (12.0 % CF). Carcass percentages at 12 weeks of age were 6 6.05, 55.70, 58.89, 56.94 and 57.59 % showing that the FM of 12 % CF w as the most superior to other diets. The pH values of rabbits' meat we re not influenced by slaughter age, and the meat of older rabbits was darker than that of younger ones. Group 2 (14.38 % CF) had higher wate r holding capacity than other groups at 8, 10 and 12 weeks. The previo us results indicated that feeding Dutch growing rabbits on feed mixtur e, or mixtures of fibre source, such as lucerne meal, up to the extent of 20 % or graduated hay levels (20, 40 and 60 %) not only gave the b est performance but also revealed marked improvement in meat character istics, while rearing these rabbits on higher levels of lucerne is not sufficient for meat production.