THE USE OF SELECTED TRITICALE AND RYE VARIETIES IN RABBIT DIETS: EFFECT ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, DIGESTIBILITY AND BALANCE OF NUTRIENTS

Objective of this work was to compare the quality of two types of cereals. Grains of rye (Secale cereale L.) variety Fernando, and triticale (Tritico secale) variety Kendo were tested for their suitability for nutrition of monogastric animals. The subjects of biological testing were complete feed mixtures with 22.5% portion of those cereals. The tests were performed with broiler rabbits. Others components in the feed mixture had the same quality. Both complete feed mixtures were different in average content of individual nutrients. Higher content of crude protein, crude fibre and lower content of fat and nitrogen free extract in triticale variety Kendo increased the value of digestible and metabolizable energy in the mixture. Significant differences were in digestibility of dry matter, fat, organic matter (P<0.05) and neutral detergent fibre (P<0.01) in mixture with rye. Results of balance experiment for nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus were similar for both tested cereals (% of retention for rye N 68.12 %; Ca 81.6%; P 60.1%, and for triticale N 68.12%; Ca 81.9%; P 69.7%, resp.). With regard to average content of nutrients. There is recommend for practical utilization of mixture containing triticale and rye for the finishing phase of fattening in broiler rabbits. The nutrients composition of mixture with rye or triticale (crude protein 170 - 175 g, fat 18 - 26 g, fibre 154 - 158 g, starch 161 g and metabolizable energy 9.4 – 9.7 MJ. kg -1) are also preferable from a physiological point of view of rabbits.