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[EN] Simplified diets are based on maximum incorporation of fodder and/or by-products into animal feed, thus minimizing the formulation and the costs. This study aimed to evaluate the possibility of feeding fattening rabbits with a simplified diet composed of only two agro-industrial by-products inexpensive and locally available: brewer’s grain and wheat bran. At weaning (35 days), 68 rabbits were divided into two identical groups (mean weight = 833 g) and housed in individual cages until slaughter (77 days). Each of the two groups (B0 and SF) was fed ad libitum either a commercial pelleted feed (control), or a simplified pelleted experimental diet "SF" containing 72% wheat bran and 27% brewer’s grain. The feed conversion was within the standards and similar in the two groups (3.55 on average). The growth rate and feed intake of B0 group were 12% higher (P <0.001) than that of the SF group (35.2g vs 31.2 and 128.3 vs 113 g/d). The cold carcass yield and the carcass weight were respectively higher (P <0.001) by 4 units and by 9% in the control group. The carcass of SF group was less fatty (perirenal fat: -23%, inguinal fat: -41% and scapular fat:-14%). The economic efficiency was 40% better for SF diet with almost 50 Algerian Dinar more benefit (/kg of meat) in current local market conditions.

[EN] The nutritive value and potential use of sun-dried common reed (Phragmites australis) leaves (CRL), for growing rabbits was studied by comparing 3 diets (regression method) containing an increasing incorporation rate of CRL: 0% (control, CRL0), 15% (CRL15) and 30% (CRL30) in substitution for the control diet (356 g neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and 197 g crude protein (CP)/kg). Three groups of 37 rabbits (individually caged) were fed the 3 diets ad libitum from weaning (35 d, mean weight: 722±142 g) to 77 d of age. The faecal digestibility of the diets was measured between 42 and 46 d of age in 10 rabbits per group. CRL can be considered high-fibre roughage, as it contained 64% of NDF (38% of ADF and 10% ADL) and 10.2% of CP. The digestible energy (DE) content of CRL calculated by regression was null (–1.8±0.29 MJ/kg as fed). CP digestibility reached 29%, corresponding to a digestible crude protein concentration of 29.0±5.6 g/kg as fed basis. The fibre digestibility was reduced with CRL incorporation. Dietary incorporation of CRL impaired the rabbit growth (34.2 vs. 31.5 g/d during the period 35-77 d without CRL or with CRL (CRL15 and CRL30), respectively; P=0.002). Consequently, feed conversion was impaired with the high incorporation rate in feed (30%). Health status or main slaughter traits were not affected by CRL incorporation rate. Thus, the sun-dried common reed leaves had a poor nutritive value for growing rabbits and it can be considered a high-fibre feedstuff, interesting to supply low digested fibres (cellulose) and lignin.

[EN] Specific knowledge of the nutritive value of raw materials is fundamental to formulate balanced diets for rabbits and allows greater use of by-products and non-conventional feedstuffs. This paper examines the feeding value of sun-dried brewers’ grain and maize silage (whole plant) for fattening rabbits. Twenty-four individually caged 8-wk-old rabbits were used to determine the digestibility. Both wet products were sun-dried and ground before being incorporated into a basal diet. The inclusion level at the expense of all basal ingredients amounted to 30%. Basal diet and both experimental diets were fed ad libitum to 8 rabbits during the 4-d balance trial. The determined digestibility of protein, fat, crude fibre and neutral detergent fibre digestibility amounted to 76.2 and 77.2%; 86.5 and 99.1%; 8.1 and 8.3% and 28.0 and 13.5%, respectively, for brewers’ grain and maize silage. The digestible energy content amounted to 11.66 MJ/kg dry matter (DM) (brewers’ grain) and 11.10 MJ/kg DM (maize silage). Both by-products have potential as alternative feedstuff in rabbit diets. However, further experiments are necessary to determine the effect of ensilaging the whole maize plant, as a significantly lower (P<0.001) feed intake was observed.

[EN] This study evaluated the effect of dam coat colours, doe’s parity order, year and kindling season on litter size and growth of suckling kits of a local Algerian rabbit population. Rabbits were reared in the rabbitry of Tizi Ouzou (Algeria) in wire mesh cages placed in a building with natural lighting and ventilation and absence of temperature regulation. Weights and size of 572 litters (3795 kits) at birth, 7, 14, 21 and 28 d were analysed. The mother’s coat colours (2 levels only: albino or coloured coat), the doe’s parity (1, 2, 3, 4-5, 6-8, ≥9 kindlings), the kindling year (4 consecutive years) and the kindling season (3 seasons: Feb-May, June-Sept and Oct-Jan), were used as main fixed factors in a factorial analysis. The population was characterised by an average individual weight of 54 g at birth and 404 g at 30 d, growth rate of 10.24 g/d between birth and 24 d and of 19.02 g/d between 24 and 30 d. The coloured females were more prolific than the albino ones: 5.59 vs. 5.09 weaned/litter (P=0.016); but kits born from albino does had a larger individual weight at weaning: 391 vs. 362 g (P=0.006). The doe’s parity order had no significant influence on the litter weight, individual weight or litter size at kindling. However, it influenced litter weight and litter size from 7 d of age up to 28 d in favour of 2nd and 3rd parity (P<0.02). Litter size was not significantly affected by year of kindling at any considered age. On the contrary, year of birth greatly influenced litter and individual weights. For example, the difference in individual weights at 28 d between the best and the worst year represented 19% of the average weight at this age. The birth season influenced mainly (P<0.001) litter size from birth until weaning in favour of the spring season: 5.92 weaned/litter vs. 5.05 or 5.04 for the 2 other seasons. From day 7 until weaning, the litter weight was larger for the Feb-May season (P<0.02) and represented +0.87 grams per litter at 28 d. The litter we

[EN] 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 g

[EN] A total of 267 rabbit does and 46 bucks from a local Algerian population were controlled during 6 generations (from G0 to G5) at the experimental farm of the University of Tizi-Ouzou. Natural mating was used and 1412 presentations were analysed. Reproductive and growing performance were analysedtaking into account the effect of the buck, its age, the generation, the season of mating (or kindling) and the physiological status of does at the moment of the mating. The buck influenced the acceptance rate(P<0.001), kindling rate (P=0.032), litter size at birth and at weaning (P<0.001), litter weight at birth (P<0.001)and at weaning (P=0.034), the mean weaning weight (P=0.018) and consequently the ponderal productivity at weaning (weight of rabbits produced at weaning/mating, P<0.001). Nevertheless, the ponderal productivity was also influenced by the age of bucks, the generation, the season and the physiological status of does at the moment of mating. The highest acceptation rate was recorded in autumn in non lactating does (primiparous and multiparous). Productivity was higher for bucks 5-10 mo old but decreased thereafter.Productivity was higher in spring, particularly for multiparous and lactating does and highly varied with the generation, evidencing the importance of environmental conditions.

[EN] Eighty one rabbits were used to study the utilisation of hard wheat by-products on the growth of rabbits from a local Algerian population. At weaning (28 d, 501±99 g), the animals were individually caged and received ad libitum one of the three experimental diets for 49 d. The control diet included 26% wheat bran (W26: control diet), alfalfa, bar- ley and soybean meal. The two other diets were formulated by substituting barley and soybean meal with hard wheat by-products, and contained 60% (W60) or 67% (W67) of these by-products (50 or 57% bran and 10% middling). On average, diets contained 11.8% crude fibre and crude protein decreased from 18.3 (W26) to 16.1% (W67). Growth traits and slaughter performances were recorded. Another group of thirty animals was used to determine dietary nutrient di- gestibility from 42 to 46 d of age. Dry matter digestibility and digestible energy content were lower in the W60 and W67 diets than in the control diet (W26) (71.3 and 71.5% vs. 74.9%, and 11.9 and 11.9 vs. 12.5 MJ/kg, respectively; P<0.01). In contrast, crude fibre digestibility was lower in W26 (21.9%) than in the other two diets (29.6 and 32.2% for W60 and W67, respectively; P<0.01). The growth rates were similar for all three groups (28.0, 27.1 and 26.0 g/d for W26, W60 and W67) as were the feed conversion ratios (3.14, 3.17 and 3.10, respectively). Dressing out percentage (66.4±2.0% on average for the cold carcass) was not affected by the amount of wheat by-products in the diet. The total mortality rate was high (23%), probably corresponding to the low crude fibre content of the three experimental diets, but was not connected to the amount of wheat by-products.

A total of 287 females of a local Kabylian population of rabbits were studied at the University of Tizi-Ouzou (Algeria) over 6 years. The females were mated for the first time at the age of 4.5 months and remated 10-12 days after parturition. The females were characterized by a medium to small adult weight (2.81±0.38 kg) and a rather low prolificacy at birth and weaning (7.2±2.5 total born, 6.1±3.0 born alive and 5.4±2.3 weaned). Based on the registration of 1377 mating attempts, acceptance of mating and conception rates were 74.3±3.8% of presented does and 73.3±4.3% of mated does respectively. The Algerian hot summer season did not seem to affect parameters of practical importance such as fertility or litter size at weaning. The only significant effect (P<0.01) was a reduction of litter weight at weaning (-13%) compared with the average of the 3 other seasons (2070 vs 2368 g at 28 days). Acceptance and conception rates were not significantly affected by mating number. At first parturition, total number of kits (6.6/litter) was significantly lower than that of multiparous does (7.3 to 7.4), and individual birth weight of first litter kits was 10% lower than that observed for subsequent litters (51.4 g on average). On the other hand, it must be emphasised that for this sample of the Kabylian population, the kit's individual weight at weaning did not vary significantly with parturition number. Birth to weaning mortality was the lowest for parturition of rank 4 and more (9.8% vs 14.4 to 16.9% for previous ones).

[EN] In order to characterize the does of a local Kabylian rabbit population raised in Algeria, a study of their milk production was carried out in the experimental rabbitry of the Tizi-Ouzou University. Milk production of does was measured every day during the 21 days following 299 parturitions by weighing each litter before and after the single daily suckling. The calculated parameters were the quantity of milk produced per day, per week and the total quantity produced in 21 days, as well as the intake of milk per young rabbit. The analysis concerned the effects of the parity order (4 classes: 1 to 4-and-more) and of the average number of young rabbits suckled per litter (7 classes: from 2-3 kits to more-than-8). During the 21 days of controlled lactation, the average litter size was 5.6 ± 2.3. The rabbit does of the local Kabylian population produced on average 2180 ± 719 g in 21 days, which is 104 g of milk/day. The milk intake of young rabbits increased from 12.6 g/day/kit during the 1st week, to 27.2 g/day during the 3rd week of lactation. The number of young per litter influenced the does' milk production very significantly: 62.8 g/d for 2 to 3 young per litter, and up to 127-131 g/day for more than 6 young, although milk production available per kit and per day decreased linearly with the number of kits in the litter for each of the 3 weeks considered. On the other hand, the average milk production expressed as quantity available per kit and per day was not significantly affected by the parity order: 20-21 g /kit /day on average for the 0-21 day period.

[EN] Eighty New Zealand White rabbits distributed into four dietary groups were fattened between 35 and 77 days in individual cages. The diets were SOJ (soybean control), FEVL (field bean meal + lucerne as the main plant supplementation), FEVSO (field bean meal + wheat bran and barley) and FEVT (field bean meal + sunflower meal). The mean protein content of the diets (14.6 % to 15.1 %) and protein digestibility (69 to 70.9 %) did not differ between diets, but the digestible energy content varied from 2076 (FEVT diet) to 2301 kcal DE/ kg. The growth rate was smaller under the field bean based diets than under the SOJ diet (42.7 g ! d with SOJ, 39.5, 38.9, 37.4 ~ ! d with FEVL, FEVSO and FEVT, respectively). Dressing percentage (mean: 57 %), perirenal fat weight and liver weight did not differ between dietary treatments. The weight of a hind leg and of the amount of meat on it, as well as its meat to bone ratio were all significantly higher under the FEVSO and FEVT diets. This study shows that field beans are a good source of proteins for growing rabbits but production performance depends on appropriate plant supplementation, which changes the sulfur amino acid and threonine balances of the protems., [ES] Quatre-vingt lapins de race Néozélandaise blanche, répartis en 4 lots, ont été engraissés entre 35 et 77 j, en cages individue/les, avec /'un des aliments expérimentaux SOJ (témoin soja), FEVL (féverole + luzerne en complément vépétal principal), FEVSO (féverole + son et orge) ou FEVT (feverole + tourteau de tournesol). Les aliments ne différaient pas par la teneur en protéines (de 14,6 a 15, 1 %) ni la digestibilité de ces dernieres (de 69 a 70,9 %), alors que leur teneur en énergie digestible variait de 2076 (aliment FEVT) a 2301 kcal ED ! kg. Les trois a/iments a base de févero/e, moins consommés que l'aliment SOJ, ont permis une vitesse de croissance plus faible (42, 7 g / j pour l'aliment SOJ, 39,5, 38,9 et 37,4 g / j, pour les aliments FEVL, FEVSO et FEVT, respectivement). Le rendement a l'abattage (57 %, en moyenne), le poids du tissu adipeux périrénaT et du foie n'ont pas subí d'influence significative des traitements alimentaires. Le poids d'un membre postérieur et de la viande qui y attachée, ainsi que le rapport muse/e/os ont été significativement plus élevés avec les aliments FEVSO et FEVT. Cette étude montre que la féverole est une bonne source principale de protéines pour le lapin en croissance mais que les performances productives dépendent de sa complementation végétale, qui joue sur l'équilibre en acides aminés soufrés et en thréonine des protéines.

[EN] One hundred New Zealand White rabbits distributed into five dietary groups were fattened between 35 and 77 days in indivicfuál ca9es. The diets were SOJ (soybean control), FEV (26.5 % f1eld beans), FEVM (FEV diet supplemented with di methionine), F'EVF (FEV diet supplemented with field beans up to a total of 37 %) and FEVT (FEV diet supplemented with sunflower cake) provided ad libitum. The mean protein content was 14.5 % in the SOJ, FEV and FEVM diets and 16.3 % in the FEVF and FEVT diets. The digestible energy content varied little between diets (2256 to 2324 kcal DE/ kg). The fibre content of each diet was 14.5 %. Apparent digestibility of dry matter was comparable in all five diets (58.9 to 60.3 %). Apparent digestibilitv of crude proteins was lower in the FEVF diet (68.2 %) tlían in the SOJ (70.8 %), FEVM (70.0 %) and FEVT (73.3 %) diets. The daily growth rate of rabbits fed the FEV diet (38.9 g / d) was lower than that in the other groups (40. 7 to 44.5 g / d) but their feed conversion ratio was similar. The diet did not affect dressing percentage (mean : 57 %) or the relativa weiQht of the skin and of the full gastrointestinal tract. However, 1t did affect several carcass composition parameters : the muscle to bone ratio was highest under the FEVM diet (5.29) and lowest under the FEV diet (4.34) and relativa liver we1ght was lowest under FEVT and highest under FEVF. Finally, there was no difference in the sensory guality of meat between SOJ and FEVF diets. In conclusion, f1eld beans were a good source of proteins for rabbits that could totally replace soybean meal but did require supplementation with sulfur amino acids (d/methionine or another plant source) in order for performance to be adequate., [FR] Cent lapins de race Néo Zélandaise Blanche, répartis en 5 lots ont été engraissés entre 35 et 77 ¡ , en cages individue/les, avec /'un des aliments expénmentaux SOJ (témoin soja), FEV (féverole 26,5 %), FEVM (aliment FEV supplémenté en di méthionine), FEVF (aliment FEV supplémenté en féverole jusgu'a un total de 37 %} ou FEVT (aliment FEV supplémenté en tourteau de tournesol), distribués a volante. La teneur moyenne en protéines étaient de 14,5 % pour les aliments SOJ, FEV et FEVM et de 16,3 % pour les aliments FEVF et FEVT. La teneur en énergie digestible variait peu entre aliments (2256 a 2324 kcal ED / kg). La teneur commune en cel/ulose était de 14,5 %. Le coefficient de digestibilité apparente (CUDa) de la matiere seche était comparable pour les 5 aliments (58,9 a 60,3 %). Le CUDa de /'azote de /'aliment FEVF (66,2 % ) était f)fus faible que celui des aliments SOJ (70,9 %}, FEVM (70,ó %) et FEVT (73,3 %). Les lapins ayant reyu l'aliment FEV ont eu une vitesse de croissance (38,9 g / J) inférieure a ce/le des lapins des autres lots (40, 1 a 44,5 g / j), mais un indice de consommation équivalent. Le régime alimentaire n'a pas influencé le rendement a l'abattage (57 % en moyenne), les poids relatifs de la peau et du tractus digestlf p/em; ma1s il a influencé certains criteres de composition de fa carcasse : le rapport muse/e/ os d'un membre postérieur, plus élevé dans le lot FEVM (5,29) et plus faible dans le lot FEV (4,34), le poids relatif du foie, plus faible dans le lot FEVT et plus élevé dans le lot FEVF. Enfin, les régimes alimentaires SOJ et FEVF n'ont pas eu d'effets aifférentiels sur la qualité organoleptique de la viande. 11 a été conclu que la féverole était une bonne source de protéines pour le lapin, qui pouvait remplacer totalememt le tourteau de soja, mats que sa supplémentation en acides aminés soufrés (di méthionine ou autre source végétale) était nécessaire pour assurer de bonnes performances.

[EN] Five groups of twenty rabbits received from 5 to 11 weeks of age, 0ne of 5 diets based on horse bean (Ascott variety, 36 %) supplemented or not with pure dl-meth1onine in order to obtain the following final levels of sulphur amino acids (SAA) : 0.37 % - 0.47 % - 0.57 % - 0.62 % or 0.67 %. On average the diet's protein content was 16.9% as fed, and the crude fiber level 12.1 %. Nutrients digestibility was measured with the 0.62 % SAA diet: nitrogen 70.3 %, crude fiber 18.3 %, energy 68,7 %. The digestible energy content was 2670 kcal/kg as fed. The lowest level of SAA (0.37%) reduced significatively the daily growth rate (33.7 g/day). The highest one was observed with 0.62 % SAA: 40.8 g/day, but differences between the 0.47 % to 0.67 % SAA dlets were not significant. The feed efficiency was not affected by the diet's SAA level. The slaughter rate increased with the diet's SAA content, from 58.2 % to 60.1 %. As proportions of the whole carcass, liver, hind legs or kidney fat weights were not affected by the diet's SAA content. The same was observed for the hind leg meat-to-bone ratio. According to the authors, the SAA mínimum level is 0.47 % and the optimum 0.62 %, for diets with the digestible energy and protein contents employed in this expenment., [FR] Cent lapins Néo-Zélandais blanc répartis en 5 lots ont re9u entre 5 et 11 semaines d'age, /'un des 5 aliments contenant 36 % de féverole (variété Ascott), supplémentés ou non avec de la di méthionine, de maniere a contenir 0,37 % - 0,47 % - 0,57 % - 0,62 % ou 0,67 % d'acides aminés soufrés (AAS). Les aliments contenaient en moyenne 16,9 % de protéines et 12, 1 % de ce/Ju/ose brute. Les CUDa estimés pour l'aliment 4 (0,62 % d'AAS) sont de 70,3 % pour /'azote, 18,3 % pour la ce/Ju/ose brute et 68, 7 % pour l'énergj_e conduisant a une teneur moyenne en énergie digestible (ED) de 2670 kcal/kg. Une teneur de 0,37 % d'AAS ra7entit significativement la vitesse de croissance. Les meilleures performances de croíssance (40,8 g/j) sont obtenues avec 0,62 % d'AAS, mais les différences entre les lots contenant 0,47 et 0,67 % d'AAS ne sont pas significatives. L'efficacité alimentaire n'est pas modifiée par l'incorporation de méthionine. Le rendement a l'abattage (carcasse froide sans manchons) est accru proportionnel/ement au taux d'AAS, il varie de 58,2 a 60, 1 %. En pourcentage de la carcasse, le poids du foie, du membre postérieur et du gras périrénal ne sont pas modifiés par l'addition de méth1onine. De meme, le rapport muse/e sur os du membre postérieur ne varíe pas de maniere significative entre lots. Un taux de 0,47 % d'AAS semble etre le mínimum acceptable tandis que 0,62 % semble etre l'optimum pour le taux azoté et la teneur en ED expérimentés.