Organic production of leguminous fodders and their feeding value in rabbits

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted to organically produce rice bean, soybean and groundnut fodder. Subsequently their feeding value in New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits was assessed. The soil was enriched 30 days in advance with rabbit manure @ 5 t/h. Total soybean grain yield was 21.27± 1.38 q/ha after taking the fodder yields of 3.13±O.29 t/ha on DM basis at 70 days after sowing. The fodder yield of rice bean in single cut and groundnut under trees in 3 cuts were recorded to be 2.84 and 8.00 tlha, respectively, on DM basis. All the fodders had good nutritive value and palatability in the rabbits. NZW rabbits (24), 50±5 days-old in equal sex ratio were distributed into 3 groups for conducting feeding trial. A concentrate mash ration of 18 per cent protein was fed to all the rabbits in the morning hours @20 g/hend/day for first 14 days and later on @ 40 and 50 g/hend/day respectively, for subsequent 19 and 18 days. [n the noon and evening hours, freshly cut green forages (T1 : groundnut, T2 : rice bean and T~: soybean) were offered ad lib to the rabbits of respective groups. These forages did not exhibit any significant affect on growth rate. The rabbits fed either 40 or 50 g/ head/day concentrate showed similar growth rate. Rabbits of treatment 1'3 consumed maximum DM through roughage and it was recorded to be 64%. Significantly higher digestibility ofDM, protein and fibre were recorded in rabbits fed on rice bean and soybean fodder. In-vivo TVFA production was not affected by types of fodders fed. However, NH3N production was maximum on soy fodder.