Use of cassava root scrapings in the feeding of rabbits

Two experiments were carried out with the objective to evaluate the use of cassava root scrapings (CRS) for growing rabbits. In the digestibility assay, 22 rabbits with 50 days of age were distributed in a completely randomized design with two treatments and 11 replicates. Two diets were used, one as reference-diet and one test, in which CRS substituted 25% of DM reference-diet. The digestible values of the DM, CP, NDF, ADF, energy and starch (%DM), were respectively 83.84%, 1.89%, 8.34%, 3.31%, 3,447 kcal/kg and 55.35%. In the performance trial, 180 rabbits were used, in the period from 35 to 70 days of age. The rabbits were distributed in a completely randomized design, with six treatments ( 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% of CRS in replacement of corn digestible energy) and 15 replicates of two animals per experimental unit. In the period from 35 to 50 days of age, there was a quadratic effect of feeding CRS in the diet on feed conversion. In the period from 35 to 70 days of age, there was a quadratic effect on LW at 70 days of age, daily weight gain and feed conversion and cost of ration/kg of LW gain. A quadratic effect also was found for carcass weight. In the period from 35 to 50 and from 35 to 70 days of age, the feed conversion of the animals fed diets with 20% and 100% of replacement of corn by CRS was better in relationship to the others animals. The cassava root scrapings could be incorporated in growing rabbits rations up to of 27.32%, substituting 100% of corn digestible energy.