Asit Chakrabarti

Growth and Carcass Characteristics of Broiler Rabbit: Fed on Sweet Potato As an Alternative Ingredient to Maize Asit Chakrabarti

Growth performance of broiler rabbit namely, Newzealand White and Soviet Chinchilla raised on rations containing various levels of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) replacing equivalent amount of maize grain for a period of 45 days. Metabolism trial was conducted during the experimental period. Animals from each group were slaughtered after end of the feeding trial. Meteorological data, daily feed consumption, weekly body weight gain, physiological parameters, blood biochemical profile, carcass characteristics, body composition and economics of growth production were studied during the experimental period. Results revealed that maize grain could be replaced by boiled sweet potato up to 20 per cent (w/w) or at the most 30 per cent (w/w) in growing rabbits ration without any adverse effect on digestibility of various nutrients, nitrogen, energy, calcium and phosphorus balance, growth performance, nutrient utilization, physiological condition, blood constituents, carcass characteristics and body composition. Feeding boiled sweet potato up to 40 per cent level to growing rabbits showed distinct economic advantage.