<i>Borassus aethiopum</i> (Arecaceae, Mart.) ripe fruits' dried peels and pulps as fibre and energy source for locally growing rabbits

Industrial feeds for rabbits are expensive in Cote d’Ivoire because the fibre sources are imported. So, in the aim to promote rabbit farming and decrease their feed cost, Borassus aethiopum ripe fruits’ dried peels and fibrous pulp (B.a) were used as fibre sources in the local growing rabbits’ diet. The essay assumed that B.a could be accepted by growing rabbits, and could positively impact their growth and immune system. Then, obtained from nulliparous does, one hundred and twenty (120) local growing rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), weaned at week-5, were selected to form a homogeneous group regarding the weights. Following this, four diets were created, with a control without B.a (0%B.a), and three test diets named 20%B.a, 25%B.a and 30%B.a accordingly. The growing rabbits were randomly allotted in groups of 30 between the 4 diets. The experiment lasted 9 weeks. In week 14, 6 animals with homogeneous weights were slaughtered per diet, comprising 3 females and 3 males. Beginning with an overall mean weight of 775,2 g on the weaning day, at week-9, the overall weight reached 1,828.06 g. In detail, diet 20%B.a got the highest weight for 2,090.62 g while diet 0%B.a allowed 1,557.12 g (p<0.0001). Moreover, the corresponding consumption indexes were 5 and 7.74 for 20%B.a and 0%B.a diets, respectively. Following the red blood cells’ count was improved from 4.05*106/µL with diet 0%B.a to 4.8*106/µL (p=0.011) with diet 20%B.a. So, B.a ripe fruits’ dried peels and pulps can be used as fibre sources for local growing rabbits' feeding.