TRADITIONAL LEAFY VEGETABLES COMBINATIONS ENHANCE GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND IMPROVE HEALTH STATUS OF NEW ZEALAND WHITE x CALIFORNIAN RABBITS

摘要

Fifty five rabbits (35 days old; average initial body weight: 550g) were used to assess their growth performance and health status when they were fed with leafy vegetables combinations (Vigna unguiculata, Abelmoschus esculentus, Ipomoea batatas, Solanum melongena, Corchorus olitorius). Ten treatments composed of 50% (dry matter) of three leafy vegetables combination and 50% of pellet were given to rabbits until 98 days of age. The control treatment contained only commercial pellets (100%). The results showed that the daily weight gain and the body weight gain did not differ between treatments. However, the final weights (1866.94-2200 g) were significantly different (p0.05), except for Low Density Lipoprotein which was high for diet F group and low for diet I group. This work revealed thatthe use of leafy vegetables combination facilitated the digestibility of diets contributing therefore to the improvement of growth performance and rabbits’ health status.