Abstract

Aim : The study was to investigate the dietary effect of hydroponic fodder on productive and reproductive performance of rabbits and economic sustainability of using hydroponic fodder for rabbit production.

Method and Materials : There were two experiments under the study were carried out in Rabbit Research Unit of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh. In Expt. I, total 48 post-weaned young rabbits of 8 weeks old were selected to evaluate growth performance by feeding hydroponic maize sprouted fodder up to 16 weeks of age. The rabbits were randomly divided into four dietary treatment groups (T₁, T_2, T₃ and T₄) and each groups having 6 replications with 2 rabbits in each replication. T₁ considered as control group fed only commercial concentrate feed (CCF) where the rabbits of T₂, T₃ and T₄ groups fed diets supplemented with 25, 50, 75% hydroponic sprouted fodder by replacement of required CCF, respectively. In Expt. II, total 24 rabbit does of 10 months old were selected to investigate the dietary effect of hydroponic maize sprouted fodder on reproductive performance. The rabbits does were randomly divided into four dietary treatment groups (T₁, T_2, T₃ and T₄) and each groups having 6 replications having 2 rabbits in each. Where, T₁was considered as control group fed only commercial concentrate feed and the rabbit does of T₂, T₃ and T₄ fed diets supplemented with 25, 50, 75% hydroponic sprouted fodder by replacement of required CCF, respectively.

Results : The results revealed that the diet supplementation with 50% hydroponic maize sprouted fodder by replacement of the required CCF showed better live weight gain, improved feed efficiency in young rabbits and rabbit does as well as showed greater litter weight and individual kit weight. The results of cost-effective analysis also were observed of greater profit when the rabbits offered diet with 50% hydroponic maize sprouted fodder.

Conclusion : It was concluded that hydroponic sprouted fodder might be supplemented upto 50% of the required CCF for economically sustainable rabbit production without any adverse effects on productive and reproductive performances.

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