Initial research on the impact of Callisiafragrans in additional diet for New Zealand white rabbit cultivated in Quang Ngai city, Quang Ngai province
Abstract
To study the effect of Callisia fragrans leaves in the diet on the growth ability of white New Zealand rabbits raised and kept in Quang Ngai city, Quang Ngai province, 100 white New Zealand rabbits (50 males and 50 females) which are four weeks old were divided randomly into two lots and fed with different diets. While the first group was fed with only bran and green grass, the second group had an additional Callisia fragrans leaves in their diets. The results showed that Callisia fragrans leaves in the diet not only increased the growth rate of rabbits at the age of 8-11 weeks but it also affects significantly the nutrition ingredients of rabbit meat. Especially, adding Callisia fragrans leaves in the diet reduced significantly some intestinal diseases. While rabbits in the second group grew without intestinal diseases, rabbits in the first group could frequently get intestinal problems and they were difficult to cure and even died. As a consequence, the rabbit survival rate of second groups is better than the first. As a result of this study, Callisia fragrans leaves can be used to be an additional green food in rabbit’s diet and to minimize intestinal disease in rabbits.