Performance, digestibility and morphometry of ileal villi of rabbits fed with levels of inclusion of “Lithothamnium”

Abstract

In order to evaluate the potential of seaweed meal (Lithothamnium sp) in the nutrition of rabbits it were realized analysis of the presence of trace elements in the composition of Lithothamnium, a performance test with determination of apparent digestibility coefficients for dry matter, protein and energy and morphometric analysis of the ileal villi of rabbits fed with diets at different levels of inclusion (0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75% and 1.00%). We used 60 New Zealand White rabbits of both sexes, at 30 days of age.The experimental diets were isonitrogenous and isocaloric, a control and the other with the different levels of inclusion of Lithothamnium sp. to replace the inert (bentonite) from the control diet ad libitum. The experimental design was completely randomized, with five treatments and twelve repetitions. The variables were subjected to analysis of variance and regression analysis model with pre-defined by the statistical program SAEG. The results showed that the inclusion of Lithothamnium sp. in different concentrations did not interfere in the variables studied: intake, digestibility coefficients of dry matter, protein and energy, weight gain, carcass yield and weight of edible offal. However, it was verified that the level of inclusion of 1.0% interfere in a negative way in the length and width of villi.