Dehydrated cashew apple meal in the feeding of growing rabbits

Abstract

Two trials were conducted aiming to determine the chemical composition, the digestibility of nutrients and energy from dehydrated cashew apple meal, as well as to evaluate the effects generated by including increasing levels (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50%) of this ingredient in growing rabbit feed, on performance, carcass characteristics and economic evaluation. In the digestibility trial, were used 24 rabbits with 55 days of age, distributed in a completely randomized design with two treatments and twelve repetitions, being one reference feed and the other test feed, composed by 70% of the reference feed and 30% DCAM. The coefficients of the dry matter digestibility, crude protein and gross energy of the DCAM were, respectively, 67.79; 30.03 and 48.61%. The digestible dry matter, digestible protein and digestible energy, based on dry matter, were, respectively, 59.55%; 4.76% and 2,119.66 kcal/kg. In the second trial, 120 mixed breed rabbits were used, with an average of 45 days of age and weight 1143 ± 153g. The animals were distributed in a completely randomized design, with six treatments and ten repetitions with two rabbits of the same sex per cage. It was observed that the inclusion of DCAM did not affect (P > 0.05) the feed intake, but reduced (P < 0.05) the feed conversion efficiency, as well as a linear reduction in carcass yield. A quadratic effect on daily weight gain and the ratio meat/bone was observed, with better inclusion level estimated at 25.31 and 24.65%, respectively. The inclusion of DCAM linearly improved economic viability to the level of 50%, however not to harm the weight gain and the ratio meat/bone, it is recommended to include up to 25%. Key words: Alternative food. Anacardium occidentale L.. Cashew pulp. Economic analysis. Oryctolagus cuniculus. Productive yield. ResumoDois ensaios foram conduzidos com o objetivo de determinar a composição química, a digestibilidade dos nutrientes e da energia do farelo do pseudofruto do caju desidratado (FPCD), bem como avaliar os efeitos da inclusão de níveis crescentes (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 e 50%) deste ingrediente em rações para coelhos em crescimento, sobre o desempenho, características de carcaça e avaliação econômica. No ensaio de digestibilidade foram utilizados 24 coelhos com 55 dias de idade, distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com dois tratamentos e doze repetições, sendo uma ração referência e outra ração teste, composta por 70% da ração referência e 30% de FPCD. da matéria seca, proteína bruta e energia bruta do FPCD foram, respectivamente, 67,79; 30,03 e 48,61%. Os teores de matéria seca digestível, proteína digestível e energia digestível, com base na matéria seca, foram, respectivamente, 59,55%; 4,76% e 2.119,66 kcal/kg. No segundo ensaio foram utilizados 120 coelhos mestiços, com média de 45 dias de idade e peso de 1143±153g. Os animais foram distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com seis tratamentos e dez repetições com dois coelhos do mesmo sexo por gaiola. Observou-se que a inclusão do FPC...

Cashew nut meal (Anacardium occidentale L.) in the feeding of growing rabbits

“…This outcome suggests that the muscle protein deposit is less than the control treatment, because there is a reduction in the deposition of the meat mass. The meat/ bone ratio in the control treatment was similar to that obtained by Gomes et al (27) , who also worked with growing rabbits and obtained a meat/bone ratio of 7.43.…”