Nutrient utilization by grower rabbits fed various energy supplements in complete feed

A feeding trial was conducted on six groups of weaner kits (weighing 0.33 ± 0.019 kg) maintained on diets containing 18% CP and 2710–3480 kcal DE/kg feed incorporating various energy supplements viz. maize, barley, damaged wheat, broken rice, jowar and bajra. The finishing weight (12 weeks) of broiler rabbits was higher (P<0.05) on diets containing barley, jowar and bajra than those on diets containing damaged wheat and broken rice as energy supplements. The digestibility of DM and CP was higher on wheat, broken rice and bajra incorporated diets, whereas energy digestibility was higher on rice and bajra incorporated diets. Animals in all the groups were in positive nitrogen balance although the percent N retention was relatively lower in jowar incorporated diet. Total gain in the experiment was however lower in damaged wheat and broken rice incorporated diets than other groups. It is concluded that jowar and bajra as energy supplements were comparable to conventional energy sources like maize and barley. These cheaper energy supplements can be used in the diet (30–35%) of grower rabbits in least cost ration formulation.