Resumen de Utilization of field beans by growing rabbits 2-Effects of various plant supplementations

M. Berchiche, F. Lebas, J. Ouhayoun

• Eighty New Zealand White rabbits distributed into four dietary groups were fattened between 35 and 77 days in individual cages. The diets were SOJ (soybean control), FEVL (field bean meal + lucerne as the main plant supplementation), FEVSO (field bean meal + wheat bran and barley) and FEVT (field bean meal + sunflower meal). The mean protein content of the diets (14.6 % to 15.1 %) and protein digestibility (69 to 70.9 %) did not differ between diets, but the digestible energy content varied from 2076 (FEVT diet) to 2301 kcal DE/ kg. The growth rate was smaller under the field bean based diets than under the SOJ diet (42.7 g / d with SOJ, 39.5, 38.9, 37.4 ij / d with FEVL, FEVSO and FEVT, respectively). Dressing percentage (mean: 57 %), perirenal fat weight and liver weight did not differ between dietary treatments. The weight of a hind leg and of the amount of meat on it, as well as its meat to bone ratio were all significantly higher under the FEVSO and FEVT diets. This study shows that field beans are a good source of proteins for growing rabbits but production performance depends on appropriate plant supplementation, which changes the sulfur amino acid and threonine balances of the protems.