Three experiments were carried out to determine the nutritive value and to evaluate the performance of growing rabbits on fed isoenergy rations containing different pearl millet levels. In a digestibility assay (experiment 1) the nutritive values of Common, BN2 and Iapar IA 98301 pearl millet were determined for 40 male New Zealand White rabbits, 45 days old, allotted in a completely randomized design, with 10 replications. Pearl millet replaced 30% of reference ration in each treatment. Values of digestible energy of Common, BN2 and Iapar IA 98301 pearl millet were respectively 3410; 3493 and 3505 kcal/kg (as feed basis). In performance assay (experiments 2 and 3) rations containing increased levels of Common or Iapar IA 98301 pearl millet cultivars (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) substituted corn. In each experiment 60 New Zealand White rabbits (30 males and 30 females), 40 days old, were alloted in a completely randomized design, with 12 replications each. No differences were observed (P>0.05) in growing rabbits performance when Common pearl millet replaced corn. Quadratic effect was reported when corn replaced Iapar IA 98301. Lower weight gain, worse feed:gain ratio and lower carcass weight were obtained, respectively, at 64.09; 58.03 and 63.58% Iapar IA 98301 pearl millet level. However, results were satisfactory for 100% replacement. It may be concluded that pearl millet has good nutritive value and Common or Iapar IA 98301 pearl millet cultivars may replace corn in growing rabbits rations.
digestibility; carcass; energy value; feeding
