Effects of substitution of soybean meal-alfalfa-maize by a combination of field bean or pea with hard wheat bran on digestion and growth performance in rabbits in Algeria

Abstract

The aim of the trial was to study the effects of replacement of a soybean meal-alfalfa-maize based diet by a mixture of field bean (g/kg as fed: 257 crude protein [CP], 139 neutral detergent fibre [NDF]) or pea (g/kg as fed: 203 CP, 122 NDF) combined with hard wheat bran (g/kg as fed: 140 CP, 396 NDF) and without supplementation of synthetic DL-methionine, on diet digestibility, growth and slaughter traits of growing rabbits. Three diets were formulated: a control diet mainly consisting of 15% of soybean meal, alfalfa and maize (SBM15 diet; g/kg as fed: 161 CP and 267 NDF) and 2 experimental diets based on 26% of field bean (FB26 diet; g/kg as fed: 167 CP and 250 NDF) or 30% of pea (P30 diet; g/kg as fed: 167 CP and 255 NDF) as main protein source, and completed with hard wheat bran (34 and 40%, respectively for FB26 and P30 diets) partly replacing alfalfa and maize. Diets were distributed ad libitum to 3 groups of 40 mixed-sex growing rabbits of Algerian white population, placed in collective cages (4 rabbits/cage) from weaning (28 d, mean weight: 614±112 g) until 77 d of age (slaughter). Faecal digestibility was measured between 42 and 46 d of age in 7 rabbits/group. Gross energy and crude protein digestibility coefficients were similar for SBM15 and FB26 diets (78.6 and 86.4%, respectively) and lower for P30 diet (75.1 and 83.6%, respectively; P≤0.03). Treatments had no effect (P=0.12) on mortality rate, which was on av. 9.2%. Treatments did not affect growth performance from 28 to 77 d of age (30.8 g/d) or feed intake (mean 94.6 g/d), but feed conversion ratio was higher for rabbits fed FB26 and P30 diets compared to those fed SBM15 diet (3.13 vs. 2.94; P=0.006). The dressing out percentages (mean 66.6%) and the muscle/bone ratio (6.8) were similar for the 3 groups of rabbits. In conclusion, the substitution of soybean meal-alfalfa-maize by a combination of field bean or pea with hard wheat bran, without methionine supplementation, does not seem to affect growth, nor the slaughter performances of the local growing rabbits. However, digestion of pea diet was reduced and feed efficiency of FB26 and P30 diets was impaired.

The effect of substitution of soybean meal with a mixture of rapeseed meal, white lupin grain, and pea grain on performance indicators, nutrient digestibility, and nitrogen retention in Popielno White rabbits

“…On the other hand, Volek and Marounek (2009) and Volek et al (2013) demonstrated that the addition of 15% WL grain and 5% WL grain hulls to the ration had no effect on the DN. In the study by Lounaouci-Ouyed et al (2014), the GE and TP digestibility coefficients were similar to those in the groups fed diets containing SBM and field bean (Vicia faba L.), while being lower in the group fed feed with 30% pea grain added.…”

“…Bononia et al (2003) are of the opinion that pea meal is a valuable feed, and that it is possible to use it as a soybean substitute. On the other hand, Lounaouci-Ouyed et al (2014) demonstrated that the 30% addition of peas had no effect on growth or feed consumption, but increased the conversion of feed per 1 kg of gain as compared with a feed containing SBM. In other publications on the substitution of SBM with other feeds, the authors explain that the poorer production results may be due to the poorer amino acid composition of the experimental diets (Stein et al 2006;Yang et al 2010;Youssef et al 2012).…”

“…The use of barley, wheat, and corn dried distiller grains with solubles (DDGS) (Chełmińska & Kowalska 2013;Alagón et al 2014;Strychalski, Juśkiewicz et al 2014;Gugołek et al 2015), sunflower cake (Volek & Marounek 2009;Volek & Marounek 2011), and rapeseed cake (Dänicke et al 2004;Gasmi-Boubaker et al 2007;Strychalski, Juśkiewicz et al 2014;Gugołek et al 2015) has already been studied. Moreover, attempts to use the grain of white lupin (WL) (Volek & Marounek 2009;Volek & Marounek 2011;Volek et al 2013), pea (Seroux 1988;Castellini et al 1991;Bonomi et al 2003), and other plants of the Fabaceae family have been made (Amaefule et al 2005;Lounaouci-Ouyed et al 2014). Production results of the animals in experimental groups in these experiments were mostly positive.…”

“…For testing, typical meat breeds or synthetic lines are most often used. Local breeds with a lower growth rate are used less frequently (AbdelGhany et al 2000;Bielański et al 2008;Lakabi-Ioualitene et al 2008;Kowalska & Bielański 2011;Lounaouci-Ouyed et al 2014;Paci et al 2014). These breeds are most often used in experiments on the extensive breeding and feeding systems.…”

“…A good solution may be the substitution of extracted SBM with a mixture of several various feeds added in smaller amounts, whose nutritional value and amino acid composition are similar to the composition of soybean meal. Lounaouci-Ouyed et al (2014) studied the effects of the substitution of soybean meal-alfalfa-maize with a mixture of field bean (Vicia faba L.) or pea with hard wheat bran on digestion and growth performance in rabbits.…”