Economic analysis of banana peel and sweet potato vines in diets for rabbits

Abstract

The objective of this work was to study the economic feasibility of using banana peel (BP) and sweet potato vines (SPV) as substitutes for maize and alfalfa hay in diets for rabbits. BP and SPV were chosen to replace maize and alfalfa hay, because in addition to the aforementioned ingredients having similar nutritional characteristics, they are among the most expensive ingredients in rabbit diets. Data were obtained through a biological assay carried out in the rabbit breeding laboratory of the Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Fifty New Zealand white rabbits, weaned at 35 days of age, were fed during the growth phase (35 to 84 days) with increasing levels of BP and SPV, replacing maize and alfalfa hay (T0, T25, T50, T75 and T100% replacement). A diet containing 100% replacement (T100) had