Performance, carcasses, cholesterol and beta-carotene of rabbit meat fed with concentrate and carrot (Daucus carota) leaves

Abstract

This study aims to observe the effect of concentrated levels in carrot leaf based feeds to improve performance, carcass and β-carotene content in local rabbit meat at 8 weeks. This study used a feed experiment using 120 local 8-week-old male rabbits divided four group treatments and 6 replications. The four group treatments were rabbits fed on carrot leaf based rations with supplementation: 0% concentrate as a control (A), 10% (B); 20% (C); and 30% (D), respectively. Each treatment consisted of six replication cages with five rabbits per cage. The results showed that feed consumption, final body weight, weight gain, carcass weight, and percentage of carcasses in Groups B, C and D, were significantly (P<0.05) higher than Group A. The lowest cholesterol content was found in rabbits group A (P<0.05). In contrast, the highest beta-carotene levels of meat (P<0.05) were found in group A.  It was concluded that supplementation of 10-20% concentrate in carrot leaf based rations could increase live weight gains, carcass weight, carcass percentage, and feed efficiency in local rabbits up to 8 weeks old. The highest content of β-carotene in rabbit meat was found in feeding 100% of carrot leaves.