1Materials, Molecules and Applications Laboratory, Preparatory Institute for Scientific and Technical Studies, University of Carthage, BP51, 2070, La Marsa, Tunisia
2Tunisian Canned Food Industries Group, 77 Taieb Mehiri Street, 1002, Tunis, Tunisia
3Protein & Bioactive Molecules Engineering Lab, INSAT, Earth Avenue, 1080, Tunis cedex, Tunis, Tunisia
4Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Beja, University of Jendouba, Avenue Habib Bourguiba, Beja, 9000, BP: 382, Tunisia
Department of Animal Production, National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia University of Carthage, 1082, Mahrajene, Tunis, Tunisia
*Corresponding author: grioui.nouha@gmail.com
Online published on 16 June, 2020.
This study was carried out to determine the effects of dried tomato pomace (DTP) feeding on the performance and apparent digestibility of growing rabbits. A total 54, 6-week old rabbits were divided into three equal groups and fed isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets containing 0 (CON), 10 (DTP-10) and 20 (DTP-20) per cent DTP for a period of 6 weeks. A digestibility trial carried out in the second week of the growth trial indicated that the digestibility of DM and EE remained similar among the three groups. However, rabbits fed DTP-containing diets showed higher (P<0.05) digestibility of CP, which showed linear increase with increasing dietary inclusion of DTP. However, there was no significant (P>0.05) differences between experimental groups in terms of weight gain, average daily gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Interestingly, the highest level of DTP (i.e. at 20%) resulted in the lowest mortality. Moreover, supplementing the diet of rabbits with DTP decreased the cost of production and increased relative net revenue. It is concluded that the incorporation of dried tomato pomace rich in polyphenols up to 20% in the rabbitdiet contributes to improved protein digestibility.
Digestibility, Growth performance, Polyphenols, Tomato pomace, Rabbit
