NUTRITIVE VALUE OF SUN-DRIED SULLA (HEDYSARUM FLEXUOSUM) AND ITS EFFECT ON PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF GROWING RABBITS
Résumé
The nutritive value and potential use of sundried sulla hay [(Hedysarum flexuosum), g/kg as feed: 885 dry matter, 438 neutral detergent fibre (NDF), 337 acid detergent fibre, 80 acid detergent lignin and 147 crude protein (CP)] for growing rabbits was studied by comparing 3 diets containing an increasing inclusion rate of sulla hay (S): 0% (control, S0), 15% (S15) and 30% (S30) in substitution for control diet (294 g NDF and 179 g CP/ kg). Three groups of 30 rabbits (individually caged) were fed ad libitum the 3 diets from weaning (35 d, mean weight: 572±93 g) to 84 d of age. Faecal digestibility of the diets was measured between 42 and 46 d of age on 10 rabbits per group. The digestible energy (DE) concentration of sulla hay estimated by regression was 8.96±0.57 MJ/kg DM, thus 7% higher than standard alfalfa meal, which would account for its high NDF digestibility (54.9%). Digestibility of crude sulla protein was estimated at 42.8%, corresponding to a digestible crude protein concentration of 71.1±8.9 g/kg DM. Even at a high incorporation rate in the feed (30%), sulla hay did not cause adverse effects on the animal growth (mean 36.0 g/d), feed intake (mean 119 g/d) or health. Feed conversion was better for a moderate rate of sulla inclusion in the diet (about 15%) than for a higher inclusion rate (3.14 vs. 3.36, P<0.001). Health status and slaughter traits were not affected by the sulla incorporation rate. Sun-dried sulla hay (Hedysarum flexuosum) could thus be considered as a good fibre source for the rabbit as a substitute for alfalfa meal.
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