Economic viability of banana peel and sweet potato vines in diets for rabbits

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Abstract
The objective of this work was to study the economic feasibility of using banana peel (BP) and sweet potato vines (SPV) as substitutes for maize and alfalfa hay in diets for rabbits. BP and SPV were chosen to replace maize and alfalfa hay, because in addition to the aforementioned ingredients having similar nutritional characteristics, they are among the most expensive ingredients in rabbit diets. Data were obtained through a biological assay carried out in the rabbit breeding laboratory of the Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Fifty New Zealand white rabbits, weaned at 35 days of age, were fed during the growth phase (35 to 84 days) with increasing levels of BP and SPV, replacing maize and alfalfa hay (T0, T25, T50, T75 and T100% replacement). A diet containing 100% replacement (T100) had the lowest cost per kilogram, which was R$ 1.18/kg, while the controlled diet was 73% more expensive, costing R$ 2.08/kg. The total operating cost to produce a rabbit head with the control treatment was R$10.93/head and at T100, it was R$6.51/head. The animal income of the live rabbit was R$ 24.08 and R$ 23.95 in treatments T0 and T100, respectively. As for the gain margin per animal (GMA), in TO it was R$ 13.16 while in T100 it was R$ 17.44, therefore the GMA was 32.55% higher when using the T100 diet. In view of the above, it is concluded that it is more economical and feasible to feed rabbits with diets containing 100% BP and SPV, replacing maize and alfalfa hay.

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