Effect of coffee pulp silage on productive and microbiological variables of New Zealand rabbits

Abstract

Objective: To know the optimal value of including coffee pulp in diets for New Zealand rabbits through its productive and microbiological parameters. Methodology: 30 weaned male rabbits were used, with an average age of 30 days and a weight of 589 g, randomly distributed in individual cages in three treatments with inclusions of 0%, 25% and 45% of coffee pulp silage with 60 days of fermentation. The animals were fed for eight weeks with isoenergetic and isoprotein diets. Results: Food consumption did not show a significant difference, this suggests that the inclusion of 45% coffee pulp silage does not affect the acceptability of the diet for rabbits. Although food consumption was not affected, daily weight gain did show a significant difference between treatments; On the other hand, the performance of the hot carcass presented a significant difference between the treatments, with the treatment of 0% inclusion of coffee pulp being the one with the highest carcass performance. In the concentration of total cecal bacteria, an increasing trend was observed in the treatments that contain greater inclusions of coffee pulp silage. Implications/limitations: There were no significant limitations. Conclusions: The use of coffee pulp silage continues to be a viable alternative in feeding rabbits, presenting excellent acceptability by the animals and cecal bacterial growth.