Soybean hulls in the replacemennt of alfafa hay in diet non pelleted for growing rabbits

The experiment was conducted from November 16 to December 28, 2009, add up 42 days. 36 animals of 35 days old were utilized and assigned to three treatments of 12 repetitions each in experimental design completely randomized. The treatments were: TA=Soybean hulls without; TACS=inclusion soybean hulls 50% and TCS=inclusion soybean hulls 100% substitution of Alfalfa at diet. The diets were isonutritives, formulated by requirement AEC (1987). The avaluated parameters were: performance animal, characteristics carcass and analyze economical. Data were analized by analysis of variance and the average compared by Tukey test (P<0.05). Values differences were detected for average feed intake and feed conversion ratio, where rabbits to feeding diets with TCS had consumption lower that to TA and showed better conversion. For the carcass characteristics effects of inclusion of soybean hulls were no significant, with exception of weight epidermis had higger for animals fed with diet TA. The economical analysis of the results showed that the formulation with soybean hulls will be to substitute the alfafa until 100%.

agricultural by-products; carcass; economical analysis; performance