Apports de lignines et alimentation du lapin en croissance. II. Conséquences sur les performances et la mortalité

Abstract

The effects of the level and the origin of the dietary lignin on growth performance and mortality were studied in 5 experimental stations on 2 045 growing rabbits. Five diets differing mainly by their acid detergent lignin (ADL) content (2.0-7.9%) and the origin of the lignin (dehydrated lucerne meal or grape-pip meal) were given ad libitum from weaning (28 and 32 d old, depending on the station) to slaughter (between 66 and 74 d old). The mortality rate (Tm) was closely related (r2= 0.99) to the ADL level: Tm(%) = 15.8 - 1.08 ADL(%); without influence of the botanical origin of the lignin. The feed conversion ratio increased by 0. points per additional point of dietary ADL. ADL was preferred to per- manganate lignin for the prediction of growth performances and mortality in the rabbit.