Evaluación de diferentes niveles de harina de Theobroma cacao (Cascarilla de cacao) en la alimentación de conejos neozelandés en las etapas de gestación y lactancia

Abstract

In the Academic and Research unit on Minor Species, the effect of three levels of cocoa husk flour (4, 8 and 12) % was evaluated in the feeding of New Zealander rabbits in the pregnancy and breastfeeding stages to be compared whit one treatment, 40 rabbits with an average weight of 2.80 kg, 9 months of age were used. It worked under a completely randomized design with 10 replicates for each treatment. In the pregnancy stage regarding the productive behavior of the mothers in relation to the variables final weight and weight gain recorded highly significant differences when using 12 and 8 %. Regarding the behavior of their offspring in the breastfeeding stage, the variables litter size at birth Nº, weaning litter size Nº, weaning litter kg, showed highly significant differences when using levels of 12 and 8%. However, in the variable weight of brood at weaning, significant differences were observed when using levels of 12, 8 and 4%. The highest profitability was obtained whit the inclusion of 12 % of cocoa husk flour, reaching a profit / cost of 1.36 which means that for every dollar invested there is a profitability of 36 cents. The use of different levels of cocoa husk flour in rabbits fed during pregnancy and breastfeeding stages, showed positive responses in the productive behavior, surpassing the control treatment. Therefore it is recommended to use the cocoa husk flour in the balance feed of other species of zootechnical interest, this way it can take advantage of the contribution of natural vitamins and minerals of the cocoa by-products