Introduction: The cultivation of bilberries (Vaccinum myrtillus L.) has become a dynamic industry in Italy, due to their utilization by processing industry that generates a considerable amount of by-products. Bilberry pomace (BP) remaining after juice extraction, considered as waste, can be an alternative feedstuffs for animal nutrition and could provide extra income for the processing industry. Therefore, we aimed to measure the nutritive value for the growing rabbits of BP and study their effects on performance and carcass characteristics. Animals, material and methods: The chemical composition of BP was characterized [g/kg on dry matter basis: 142 crude protein (CP) and 22.7 MJ/kg gross energy (GE)]. 144 Grimaud weaned rabbits (35-day-old) were divided into 4 groups of 36 animals and fed ad libitum with a basal diet (BP0, 177g CP and 17.9 MJ/kg GE) tested against three assay diets developed by substituting 50, 100 and 150 g/kg of the BP0 diet with BP (BP5, BP10 and BP15, respectively). Performance data were recorded over 49 days. At 84 days of age, 12 rabbits per group were slaughtered and the carcasses were weighed and the weights of the skin and full gastrointestinal tract were recorded. The chilled carcass weight, dressing out percentage and the ratio of head and liver were determined. The reference carcass weight was also calculated. Data obtained were analyzed using the SPSS software package by General Linear Model using one-way ANOVA with diet as the main factor. Means were compared by Duncan's test and differences were declared at P<0.05. Results and discussion: Final weight and weight gain did not differ among the dietary treatments. Significant differences were recorded for average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion rate (FCR) parameters, with the lowest values recorded in BP10 group. No significant differences appeared for all carcass characteristic parameters except for liver weight, that resulted higher in the BP0 group. Conclusion: It can be concluded that BP could be effective as substituting of a basal rabbit diet at levels of up to 150 g/kg BP, with optimum ADFI and FCR found in rabbits fed 100 g/kg BP that can be used economically in rabbit diet formulations.
EFFECT OF ORGANIC BILBERRY POMACE ON PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF GROWING RABBITS
F Gai;
2014
Abstract
Introduction: The cultivation of bilberries (Vaccinum myrtillus L.) has become a dynamic industry in Italy, due to their utilization by processing industry that generates a considerable amount of by-products. Bilberry pomace (BP) remaining after juice extraction, considered as waste, can be an alternative feedstuffs for animal nutrition and could provide extra income for the processing industry. Therefore, we aimed to measure the nutritive value for the growing rabbits of BP and study their effects on performance and carcass characteristics. Animals, material and methods: The chemical composition of BP was characterized [g/kg on dry matter basis: 142 crude protein (CP) and 22.7 MJ/kg gross energy (GE)]. 144 Grimaud weaned rabbits (35-day-old) were divided into 4 groups of 36 animals and fed ad libitum with a basal diet (BP0, 177g CP and 17.9 MJ/kg GE) tested against three assay diets developed by substituting 50, 100 and 150 g/kg of the BP0 diet with BP (BP5, BP10 and BP15, respectively). Performance data were recorded over 49 days. At 84 days of age, 12 rabbits per group were slaughtered and the carcasses were weighed and the weights of the skin and full gastrointestinal tract were recorded. The chilled carcass weight, dressing out percentage and the ratio of head and liver were determined. The reference carcass weight was also calculated. Data obtained were analyzed using the SPSS software package by General Linear Model using one-way ANOVA with diet as the main factor. Means were compared by Duncan's test and differences were declared at P<0.05. Results and discussion: Final weight and weight gain did not differ among the dietary treatments. Significant differences were recorded for average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion rate (FCR) parameters, with the lowest values recorded in BP10 group. No significant differences appeared for all carcass characteristic parameters except for liver weight, that resulted higher in the BP0 group. Conclusion: It can be concluded that BP could be effective as substituting of a basal rabbit diet at levels of up to 150 g/kg BP, with optimum ADFI and FCR found in rabbits fed 100 g/kg BP that can be used economically in rabbit diet formulations.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
