Growth performance and apparent digestibility of diets with increasing levels of dried artichoke bracts in growing rabbits

The present research was designed to study the effects of artichoke bracts (AB) supplementation on the performance and apparent digestibility of growing rabbits. A total of 120 rabbits were kept in individual cages and divided into three groups of 40 animals each. Rabbits were fed ad libitum with three diets (0, 5, or 10% of AB). All diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric and to meet all the essential nutrient requirements of growing rabbits. The effects on growth performance and nutritive values were studied during 58 days. In vivo apparent digestibility trial was studied at 51 days of age and the digestion coefficients were calculated according to standard procedures following the indirect digestibility method, using acid insoluble ash as an inert marker. Results showed that the final weight, weight gain, feed intake, crude protein apparent digestibility coefficient did not differ significantly among the dietary treatments. However, significant differences were observed in feed conversion rate and in other apparent digestibility coefficients amongst the 0% AB group and the two supplemented groups. Artichoke by-product is a valid feed ingredient due to its good chemical composition and it could be used satisfactorily as a supplement for rabbits at levels of up to 10% AB in the diet, even though a best digestibility was found in rabbits fed diet with 5% AB.