Khuc Thi Hue et al., 2006. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 18 (4): 58
This study was carried out at the Livestock Research Centre, Nam Xuang, Laos, from 20 September to 20 October 2005. A completely randomized design was used with 4 treatments: WS - water spinach only (control); WSS - water spinach + Stylosanthes foliage; WSG - water spinach + Guinea grass leaves; and WSRB - water spinach + rice bran. There were 3 replications with 12 weaned rabbits about 40-45 days of age and 400-550 g liveweight housed in individual cages. The intakes of dry matter (DM) and crude fibre and the growth rates of the rabbits were higher when supplementary sources of fibre were offered together with the water spinach. The apparent digestibility of DM and crude protein was high (>80%) in all treatments. Advantages appeared in offering supplementary sources of fibre when rabbits were fed basal diets of fresh water spinach.