Utilización de la harina de maralfalfa en la alimentación de conejos neozelandés desde el destete hasta el inicio de la vida reproductiva

Abstract

In the production unit and research of small animals, rabbits section LSF- ESPOCH, the effect of different levels of maralfalfa flour (5, 10, 15 and 20 %) was evaluated in New Zealand rabbits feeding from weaninig to the start of reproductive life, it was worked with 4 treatments to a control treatment. A design applied in combinatorial completely random arrangement of two factors, where the factor A, maralfalfa flour levels and factor B, animal gender, with 5 repetitions. The results of this research show that the use of flour supplied to rabbits maralfalfa improve production parameters, this is reflectedin reduced costs and increased profitability observed that by applying 20% of the resistered maralfalfa best final weight (4.51) weight gain (3.63 kg/MS); feed conversión (4.20) ; carcass weight (2.61kg) and carcass yield (58.53%). Regarding the sex factor of the animals from male rabbits show better results especially as relates to the final weight (4.21 kg) of food consumption (20.20 kg) and feed conversion (5.42) relative to the female rabbits.Regarding the gender factor, male rabbits animals show better results especially as relates to the final weight (4.41 kg) food consumption (20.20 kg) and feed conversion (5.42) with regarding female rabbits. The highest profitability was reported in rabbits at the level (20%), since the result was 1.38 meaning that for every dollar invested a profit of 30 cents is expected. Therefore, the use of maralfalfa flour doses not affect the biological rabbits behavior. It is recommended to use (20%) of maralfalfa flour in rabbits food in order to improve production parameters.