Impact of Four Fiber Sources and the Strategy of Feeding on the Nutritional Quality of Rabbit Meat (Oryctogalagus cuniculis).

Abstract

This study was conducted to valorize four sources of fiber (Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala , Moringa oleifera and palm nut fibers) in animal production. The experiments were carried out on 128 rabbits divided into 4 batches of 32 animals, reared for 8 weeks under the same conditions. Each batch was subdivided into two subgroups, one fed with a complete diet (a diet containing one of the fiber sources and served all day) and the other with the same diet separated from the fiber source (served at 9 a.m. and supplemented with the fiber source at 4 p.m.). Eight (8) experimental rations were, respectively, tested on the subgroups: complete feed Gliricidia sepium (CFG); supplemented feed Gliricidia sepium (SFG); complete feed Leucaena leucocephala (CFL); supplemented feed Leucaena leucocephala (SFL); complete feed Moringa oleifera (CFM); supplemented feed Moringa oleifera (SFM); complete feed palm nut fiber (CFF); supplemented feed palm nut fiber (SFF). In each subgroup, 4 rabbits were slaughtered at 15 weeks of age for a total of 32 rabbits. Physico- chemical parameters were evaluated on the feed and the meat. Data were analyzed using SAS 2013 software. Fiber content was similar (p > 0.05) for complete feeds. Fat content was high (p < 0.001) for the palm nuts fiber (27.34%) and the CFF feed (11.36%). Feeding rabbits with G. sepium leaves or palm nut fiber continuously increased the fat content of the meat in con-trast to sequential feeding. Meat quality was also better when the fiber source was used in the feed of the rabbits in the evening