Energy, protein and fibre digestibility of soya bean hulls for rabbits.

Abstract

Twenty New Zealand White x Califomian growing rabbits between 46 and 51 d of age were used to determine energy, protein and fibre digestibilities of soya bean hulls. The nutritive value was determined by the substitution method using a basal diet formulated for a high energy and protein content (11.4 MJ DE kg^-1 and 19. 7% CP, respectively) to balance the low nutritive value of the soya bean hulls. This feedstuff was substituted at a 24% in the basal diet. Energy, protein and NDF digestibilities (%) of soya bean hulls calculated by difference were 34.5(±3.28), 30.0(±4.28) and 30.6(±4.70), respectively, and digestible energy value was 6.17(±0.60) MJ kg^-1 DM. Standard errors of these estimations were similar respect to that obtained with other fibre by-products studied previously. The nutritive value of soya bean hulls was relatively low compared with other results from literature.