ARTICLE INFO

ABSTRACT

Received date: 07/08/2015

Accepted date: 08/08/2016

Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of dietary fiber sources from vegetables and fiber supplements from Hymenache acutigluma or Wedelia trilobataon nutrient digestibility on nutrient digestibility and growth performance of rabbits. Both experiments were 2*3 factorial designs, with 3 replications. The first factor was vegetable [water spinach (WS) and sweet potato vines (SPV)]; the second one was fiber supplement with Wedelia trilobata (WT), Hymenache acutigluma (HA), or none. Experiment 1 was done on 4 male crossbred rabbits at 8 weeks of age in one experimental unit. In experiment 2, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen retention and caecum fermentation were determined on twelve- week old rabbits. The results showed that dry matter (DM) and organic intakes (OM) were similar (P>0.05) between vegetables and among fiber source supplements in the first experiment. The final weight and weight gain were significantly higher (P<0.05) for those treatment that animals fed with WS only compared to SPV in factor 1, and for treatment without fiber supplementation in factor 2. The higher benefits were found in the diets fed only SPV and the diet supplemented WT. In Exp. 2 the apparent digestibility  of DM,OMwere significantly higher than those animals fed the diet only WS (P<0.05), and the diets with or without supplemented with WT (P<0.05). Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestibility values were significantly lower (P<0.01) in the diet with HA supplement. The caecal total volatile fatty acids (VFAs) were similar between WS and SPV diets, but significantly higher (P<0.05) in the diets with WT supplement and none compared to the supplemented HA. It was concluded that water spinach was superior to sweet potato vine as the basal diet for rabbits and that there were no nutritional benefits from offering higher fiber supplements.

KEYWORDS

Digestibility, Hymenache acutigluma, sweet potato vine, water spinach, Wedelia trilobatas

Cited as: Dong, N.T.K. and Thu, N.V., 2016. A response of nutrient intake, digestibility and growth rate of rabbits (Oryctolaguc cuniculus) fed water spinach or sweet potato vines with or without fiber supplement. Can Tho University Journal of Science. Vol 3: 19-24.