Growth performance and meat quality traits of rabbits fed complete feed pellets containing mulberry and stylosanthes forage compared to conventional feeding

Comparative evaluation of complete feed pellets containing 70% mulberry (Morus alba) leaves, and 70% stylosanthes (Stylosanthes hamata) hay was made with conventional feeding on 60 Soviet Chinchilla rabbits weaned at 4 weeks. Weaners were distributed randomly into three equal groups (T₀, T₁, T₂) with similar average weights. Rabbits in T₀ were fed conventionally with ad libitum concentrate pellet and cowpea hay, whereas those in T₁ and T₂ were fed ad libitum complete feed pellets containing 70% mulberry leaves and 70% stylosanthes hay, respectively. The average daily gain was lower, while the feed conversion ratio was higher in T₁ and T₂ groups compared to T₀ (conventional group). The feeding cost/kg weight gain was lower in T₁ (₹ 64.4) and T₂ (₹ 75.1) than conventional (T₀) feeding system (₹ 94.9). Carcass traits revealed lower fat, loin eye area and higher bone per cent in T₁ and T₂ than T₀ group. The meat color showed lower redness (a) and chroma values in T₁ group. The fatty acid profile revealed lower SFA, MUFA and higher PUFA in T₁ and T₂ groups than in T₀. Further, meat from rabbits of T₁ group exhibited higher n-3 fatty acids, ideal n-6/n-3 ratio, higher peroxidizability and lower atherogenic and thrombogenic index values. On storage of nuggets under refrigerated conditions up to 3 weeks, lower TBARS value was recorded in T₂ and T₁ as compared to T₀ group; while redness (a) value was higher in nuggets of T₁ group. It can therefore be concluded that conventional feeding system for rabbits results in higher growth and better FCR, but at a higher cost due to the increased proportion of concentrate pellets. Complete feed pellets, especially those containing 70% mulberry leaves, reduce feeding costs, improve fatty acid profile, and extend the shelf life of meat and nuggets compared to stylosanthes hay feeding. For optimal economic and growth benefits, mulberry leaves should not exceed 70% in complete feed pellets.