HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by de Blas, J. C. Articles by Rodríguez, J. M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by de Blas, J. C. Articles by Rodríguez, J. M.

Units for Feed Evaluation and Requirements for Commercially Grown Rabbits¹

E.T.S. Ingenieros Agrónomos², 28040 Madrid, Spain

Abstract

Four-hundred thirty-two Spanish Giant rabbits were used to study the energy and protein utilization of 12 diets having variable energy: protein ratios. Using the factorial method to separate maintenance and production costs, the mean daily maintenance requirements were estimated to be 132 Kcal of digestible energy (DE) · kg^–.75 ·d^–1 and 3.8 g of digestible protein (DP) · kg^–.75 · d^–1. The efficiency of utilization of DE for body energy retention (RE) was 52.5% and for protein and fat synthesis 38.3 and 64.4%, respectively. Protein retention (RP) was 89.6% of DP intake for production. Overall energy (RE/DEi) and protein (RP/DPi) efficiencies were significantly influenced by feed composition, weaning age, market weight and rate of growth. For balanced diets, the relative value of feeds can be estimated quite accurately from the relationship between their DE and their DP content. Finally, the total requirements of energy and protein for growing rabbits are calculated as a function of their weight at weaning, rate of growth and market weight.

¹ The authors are grateful to Dr. C. J. Pérez for his criticism during the preparation of this paper.

² Dept. de Nutr. Anim.