Caro et al., 1991. Avances en Produccion Animal, 16 (1-2) : 183-188

From weaning to 104 days old 60 New Zealand x Californian rabbits, 1 month old, were given a basal diet (42% wheat bran, 7.4% rapeseed meal, 24.1% lucerne hay, 31.5% maize) ad libitum with 0 (controls), 18.4 and 29.4% algarrobo fruit replacing wheat bran and rapeseed meal and providing 0, 30 and 60% of dietary crude protein. Average daily liveweight gain was 14.24, 13.12 and 14.65 g/day and feed intake was 73.26, 71.05 and 81.84 g/day, respectively. Liveweights were higher (P<0.01) in controls at 76 days old and feed intakes were lower (P<0.05) with 18.4% carob fruit in week 1 and higher (P<0.01) with 29.4% algarrobo fruit in week 7.

Three groups of 20 hibrids rabbits New Zealand x Californian (10 males + 10 females) were used to study the effect of replacement of 30% (A 30) or 60% (A 60) of the crude protein (CP) of a fattening basal diet (A 0) (42% wheat bran 7.4%) rapeseed meal; 24.1 alfalfa meal; 31.5% corn grain. Protein substitute used was "Algarrobo" fruits and the diets were isoenergetic. Animals were fed ad libitum from weaning to 104 days of age, in cages with two rabbits each one. Weekly the feed intake was registered and the individual live weight each 10 days. Results demonstrated that live weight gains were similar for all the treatments (P = 0.05). Daily gains were 14.24; 13.12 and 14.65 g/an for AO; A30 and A60, respectively. Feed intake was also similar for the treatments, recording 73.26; 71.05 and 81.4 g/an/d for A0; A30 and A60, respectively. Significant differences among groups, only were recorded for the live weight when animals aged 75 ds.