Evaluación del efecto de la inclusión de matarratón (Gliricidia Sepium) en la alimentación de conejos (Oryctolagus Cuniculus) en Norte de Santander.

Abstract

Nowadays, concern about the environmental impact derived from traditional livestock farming leads to the search for more sustainable alternatives that contribute to food security, the economic growth of the country and guarantee the efficient use of resources. In this sense, rabbit breeding stands out as a viable alternative to beef, considering that: raising rabbits requires less lands and the short-term productive capacity of rabbits is high. The high costs of commercial feed (concentrates) presents a limitation. The inclusion of forage products in the diet of rabbits emerges to reduce production costs. In accordance with the above, this paper presents a study carried out on 12 rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), subjected to the same diet, in which the effect of the inclusion of matarratón (Gliricidia sepium) in the diet was evaluated as an alternative source of protein in the growth and fattening stages. Therefore, three treatments were proposed: T1 (control), T2 and T3, in which the traditional concentrate was replaced by matarratón in proportion of 15% and 30%, respectively. The variables evaluated were weekly weight gain, average feed consumption and feed conversion. As a result of this study, the best results are obtained when an alternative diet with 15% of matarratón is supplied.