Effect of carob (Ceratonia siliqua) on growth parameters and viability of local Algerian rabbit populations (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the effect of incorporating different levels of carob on growth parameters and the viability of rabbits. Carob diets with 3.5 kg/T, 5 kg/T, and 100% carob were distributed to 3 groups of kids from the local population, from weaning at 28 days to slaughter at the age of 110 days. The results show the effect of using carob on the live weight (1356.95 g) of the rabbits and led to a decrease in feed conversion ratio, good feed efficiency, and feeding costs. However, the average daily gain had been affected by the addition of carob to the diet between the groups control and the other groups in the whole period between 28 and 42 days of age and 42-108 days(P <0.01).Car-ob improve growth rate in rabbits with a little and best performing consumption index (3.32) during the growing period for a rabbit weaned at 28 days (Group 1) in comparison with the groups Group C, Group 2, and Group 3 respectively (3.87, 5.38, 3.73). The effect has been significant between the groups between 42 and 108 days of age (P <0.01) but it was not different for the period between 28-35 days (P = 0.115).Mortality and morbidity measurements do not indicate any significant effect of carob use on the health status of rabbits (P < 0.05).On the other hand, the incorporation rate of 3.5 kg/T of carob gives good feed efficiency and carcass weight (1854 g)compared to 5 kg/T(1730.5).In conclusion, the supplementation of carob may improve the growth performance, dressing yield,and carcass weight of local rabbits.