Effect of partial dietary substitution of Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) to barley grains on diet digestibility in growing rabbits.

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Volume 79, Article 1

[Volume 79, Article 1]

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ASMA AISSA¹

IMEN CHAKROUN¹

ROUA REJEB¹

MADIHA HAJ AYED¹

¹Institut Supérieur Agronomique de Chott-Mariem, Sousse – Université de Sousse- Tunisie

Abstract - The present study aims to evaluate the effect of the substitution of carob pods to barley, on apparent nutrient digestibility of rabbit feeds. A total number of 30 male rabbits of 7 weeks of age and with a live body weight of 1116 ± 118 g were randomly allotted to 3homogeneous groups (10 rabbits/group, 1 rabbit/cage). Each group received one of the experimental diets Control, Carob 10 and Carob 20, containing 0, 10 and 20% of carob pods, respectively. The assay was conducted, according to the European reference method reported by Perez et al. (1995). Digestibility of dry matter (DMD), organic matter (OMD), crude protein (CPD), crude fiber (CFD), neutral detergent fiber (NDFD), acid detergent fiber, (ADFD) and hemicelluloses (HCD) were determined. The results showed that carob pods reduced diet digestibility in rabbits. This effect can be attributed mainly to its relatively high lignocellulosic content. Indeed, if the incorporation rate reached20 %, the Acid Detergent Fiber and Acid Detergent Lignin content would increase, respectively, to 23 and 14 % DM.

Keywords: Carob, Rabbits, apparent digestibility