| The nutritive value of maize ear for rabbits was determined by substitution of a standard diet (diet C) with 20 and 40% of maize ear (diets M20 and M40). Two experiments were carried out. In the first one, digestibility trials for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and gross energy (GE) were performed with 24 rabbits. In the second experiment, 200 young rabbits were divided in two groups at weaning (28 d) and fed ad libitum with diets C and M20 up to 63 d of age. Feed intake and live weight gain were recorded from weaning to slaughter, and feed conversion ratio was calculated. The principal component of maize ear is the grain (88%) and, consequently, the chemical composition of maize ear is similar to corn, except for its higher fibre content. The... |
