Ferreira et al., 1997. Arq. Bras. Med. Vet. Zootec., 49 (4): 465-472
Digestibilidade aparente dos fenos de rami (Boehmeria nivea, G.), guandu (Cajanus cajan, L.), soja perene (Glycine wightii, V.) e da palha de feijäo (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) em coelhos na fase de crescimento
The work was carried out to determine the chemical composition, the apparent digestibility of nutrients and energy values of ramie hay (PH), pigeon pea hay (PH), perennial soybean hay (PSH) and bean husk (BH), on growing stage rabbits. For the digestibility experiment, 20 New Zealand White rabbits were used, divided into digestibility cages in an entirely randomized design testing of five treatments with four replications each. The experimental rations consisted of a basal ration and four test-rations, so that each food to be appraised replaced 40% of the basal ration on the basis of dry matter. The total amount of feces of each animal was collected daily. Based on the chemical analysis, consumption and excretion of the nutrients were determined. The following apparent digestibility coefficients were respectively determined regarding of dry matter (%), crude protein (%), crude fiber (%), ether extract (%), nitrogen free extractive (%) and gross energy(%) : RH - 49.80; 59.49; 22.78; 36.14; 63.04 and 47.93; PH - 24.00; 25.64; 27.41; 32.26; 20.98 and 24.62; PSH - 34.22; 46.38; 8.34; 85.27; 62.71 and 33.68; BH - 30.24; 54.42; 28.00; 60.16; 39.22 and 27.58. This work revealed that the diet's nutrients were utilized differently, probably due to cell-wall chemical particularities.