Dietary Supplementation with <i>Pithecellobium dulce</i> (Roxb) Benth Fruits to Fattening Rabbits

Abstract

Pithecellobium dulce produces a fruit used in alternative medicine that could be utilized to feed rabbits. The objective of this study was to measure the effect of the P. dulce fruit on productive performance, carcass traits, meat characteristics, and meat product quality as well as shelf-life. Seventy-two California × English pot crossbreed rabbits (35 d age) were randomly distributed into two treatments: a control group without P. dulce and another group fed with 5% of P. dulce, and fattening for 28 d. Productive performance parameters, blood biochemistry and hematology, apparent digestibility, carcass traits, meat characteristics, and meat product shelf-life were measured. The results indicate inclusion of 5% P. dulce improves (p p p P. dulce. Antioxidant properties in the meatballs were different (p P. dulce fruits to feed fattening rabbits can be used to improve the shelf-life of rabbit meat.

Keywords

• legume
• feed
• meat quality
• carcass trait
• sensory analysis
• blood biochemistry