Abstract

Rabbit breeding is an activity that is growing worldwide due to its easy handling, high reproduction rate and the possibility of generating profits from the sale of animals or the benefit of animal protein through selfconsumption. The high feed costs in the production of rabbits through the use of commercial food, make that are looked for alternatives of feeding for this species, as it can be the "palo escrito" plant (Dalbergia palo-escrito sp). The leaves of this plant contain high amounts of protein, it is perhaps for this reason that this gender is part of their diet. The effect of replacing the proportion of alfalfa per "palo escrito" in the diet of rabbits for fattening on the quality of the carcass and the meat of rabbits was evaluated. The results showed that the use of "palo escrito" in the diet of rabbits is totally harmful, since, in the first week of treatment, all the animals died, even though some beneficial effect has been reported in some other animals. Regarding the use of alfalfa or maize in multinutritional diets, the rabbits treated with maize showed a significant difference in the productive parameters and in the quality of the channel with respect to those treated with alfalfa. It is necessary to continue studying the "palo escrito" because possibly its secondary metabolites may have the beneficial effect if they are included as additives.

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