Growth performance and economics of feeding hydroponic maize fodder with replacement of concentrate mixture in new zealand white rabbit kits

Abstract

The objective of the current study is to study the effect of hydroponic maize fodder with replacement of concentrate mixture on the growth performance of New Zealand white kits. Twenty-four New Zealand white kits of either sex at the age of two months were randomly divided into three groups namely treatment 1 (100% concentrate mixture), treatment 2 (75% concentrate & 25 % hydroponic maize fodder) and treatment 3 (50% concentrate & 50% concentrate hydroponic maize fodder) each consisting of 8 kits. Palatability study was conducted for a period of 10 days to assess the acceptability and maximum intake of hydroponic maize fodder by the kits. At the end of the palatability study, maximum intake of hydroponic maize fodder was found to be 100 + 0.25 g/day/kit. Feeding trial was formulated on as fed basis and the trial was conducted for a period of 30 days. Production parameters such as total body weight gain, daily body weight gain; total feed intake /head/30 day (g) (DM basis), feed efficiency and economics such as the cost of feeding/animal/30 days and cost of feeding/animal/day were studied. 50% replacement of concentrate with hydroponic fodder significantly (p< 0.01) improved the final body weight (1214.5+5.19g), total body weight gain (410+5.55g), daily body weight gain (13.66+ 0.58g), total feed intake /head/30 day (1482.9+0.29g ) on DM basis and significantly lowered the feed conversion ratio (3.61+ 0.15), cost of feeding/animal/30 days (35.25+0.39 IR (Indian Rupees)) than other two treatment groups. Hence, hydroponic maize fodder can be used as an alternate for concentrate mixture in the diet of rabbit kits. The objective of the current study is to study the effect of hydroponic maize fodder with replacement of concentrate mixture on the growth performance of New Zealand white kits. Twenty-four New Zealand white kits of either sex at the age of two months were randomly divided into three groups namely treatment 1 (100% concentrate mixture), treatment 2 (75% concentrate & 25 % hydroponic maize fodder) and treatment 3 (50% concentrate & 50% concentrate hydroponic maize fodder) each consisting of 8 kits. Palatability study was conducted for a period of 10 days to assess the acceptability and maximum intake of hydroponic maize fodder by the kits. At the end of the palatability study, maximum intake of hydroponic maize fodder was found to be 100 + 0.25 g/day/kit. Feeding trial was formulated on as fed basis and the trial was conducted for a period of 30 days. Production parameters such as total body weight gain, daily body weight gain; total feed intake /head/30 day (g) (DM basis), feed efficiency and economics such as the cost of feeding/animal/30 days and cost of feeding/animal/day were studied. 50% replacement of concentrate with hydroponic fodder significantly (p< 0.01) improved the final body weight (1214.5+5.19g), total body weight gain (410+5.55g), daily body weight gain (13.66+ 0.58g), total feed intake /head/30 day (1482.9+0.29g ) on DM basis and significantly lowered the feed conversion ratio (3.61+ 0.15), cost of feeding/animal/30 days (35.25+0.39 IR (Indian Rupees)) than other two treatment groups. Hence, hydroponic maize fodder can be used as an alternate for concentrate mixture in the diet of rabbit kits.