Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science, Khanapara, Guwahati-781022, Assam, India.
Online published on 29 December, 2011.
Eighteen New Zealand White rabbits, divided Into 3 groups of 6 each, were fed on pelleted concentrate feed ad lib (Group T1), 50% pelleted feed and fresh doob (Cynodon dactyton) grass ad lib (group T2) and fresh doob grass ad lib (group T3). Average weekly body weight gain in groups T1, T2 and T3 were 125.94±0.48, 91.23±0.62 and -35.46±0.26 g; and feed conversion efficiency were 5.34±0.21, 0.24±0.36 ssnd -10.79±0.61, respectively. Digestibility coefficients for the organic nutrients were highest in group T1 followed by T2 and T3. Balances of nitrogen, calcium and phosphoras were positive in groups T1 and T2 and negative in group T1 Dressing percentage was 56.28±0.96, 55, 37±0.67 and 49.41±0.99 for groups T2, T2 and T3 respectively. These results showed that New Zealand White rabbits cannot be raised solely on fresh doob grass.
