Utilization of Corn-cob Meal and Faba Bean Straw in Growing Rabbits Diets and Their Effects on Performance, Digestibility and Economical Efficiency

Weaned V-line rabbits aged 6 weeks (n: 84), were randomly distributed into 7 experimental groups to evaluate barley, corn-cob meal (CCM), Alfalfa hay, berseem hay (Egyptian clover) and dried Faba bean straw (DFBS). The evaluation included chemical analysis and effects of substituting 30% CCM instate of barley as an energy source with Alfalfa hay, berseem hay, or DFBS each at 25% as a fiber source on productive performance, carcass traits, nutrients digestion coefficients and economical efficiency. Each experimental group involved 12 rabbits, with 4 replicates of 3 rabbits each. The experimental period lasted from 6 to 12 weeks of age. Results could be summarized as follow: 1Higher NFE and EE values present CCM as a potential energy source for livestock, while Alfalfa hay had higher CP and EE followed by berseem hay. 2Higher feed intake (FI) was noted for the control, while lower FI were recorded for all other treatments which averaged 13.95 to 18.14% of the control. Impaired Feed conversion ratio (FCR; 3.69 g./ g.) was recorded due to feeding the control, with better FCR averaging 3.22 g./ g. for all other treatments. 3Significantly higher protein, digestible energy (DE) and fiber intakes were noted for the control, while overall DE intake of the control was similar to CCM with Faba beans straw. 4Lower abdominal fat was noted for CCM with Faba beans straw (5.73%), Moreover, an increase in small intestine length was recorded for CCM with Alfalfa hay (362.50 cm), and longer caecum was noted for rabbits fed Barley with Alfalfa hay (13.38 cm).