Effect of starch substitution with crude glycerol on growing rabbitand lactating doe performance

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study the effect of dietary inclusion of 2.5 or 5.0% of glycerol in substitution for starch on performance of lactating does and fattening rabbits. Over 4 consecutive reproductive cycles, a total of 81 crossbred rabbit does and 813 young rabbits weaned at 25 (fattening trial 1) or 35 d of age (fattening trial 2) were allocated at random to the experimental treatments. Inclusion of glycerol In the diet up to 5% did not influence total feed consumption of does and suckling rabbits, body weight and bioelectrical impedance of does at parturition or at 21 d of lactation and litter weight at weaning, or reproductive efficiency. Substitution of starch with glycerol did not affect feed intake, weight gain or mortality during fattening. The results of the current study indicate that crude glycerol from the biofuel industry can be used at levels up to 5% in rabbit diets without any detrimental or beneficial effect on performance. © WRSA. UPV. 2003.