Sorgo grão na nutrição de coelhos: digestibilidade, desempenho produtivo e características de carcaça

Abstract

Corn is the main source of energy on animal diets. However, in some Brazilian regions, their availability, especially in the off-season may be insufficient to meet demand. Sorghum, due to presents a bromatological composition similar to corn and because its lower cost, can be considered an alternative. In this context, the objective was to evaluate the substitution of maize to sorghum on zootechnical performance, on digestibility, carcass characteristics and meat quality of bucks. Male White New Zealand rabbits were fed three diets (100% maize, 100% sorghum and 50/50 maize and sorghum) for evaluation of productive performance and digestibility. At 80 days of age, rabbits were slaughtered for evaluation of carcass traits. In the test of zootechnical performance was evaluated weight gain (GP), feed intake (CR) and feed conversion ratio (CA). In the digestibility assay the digestibility of dry matter (CDMS), crude protein (CDCP), gross energy (EB), neutral detergent fiber (CDFDN) and acid detergent fiber (CDFDA) were evaluated. There was no significant difference for any of the parameters of zootechnical performance studied (p>0.05). The digestibility results showed higher CDPB and CDFDN in the maize base feed (p<0.05), and there were no differences among the other parameters studied. Eight bucks carcasses were randomly selected from each treatment to evaluate the yield of the warm carcass (WHR), cooled carcass (RCR), viscera, flesh/ bone ratio, pH, meat color, measures of length and composition of the meat. There was no significant difference for any of the parameters studied (p>0.05). It concludes that sorghum can replace partially or fully the maize in rabbit growth rates without interfering with their growth performance, digestibility, the characteristics of carcass and meat quality of rabbits.