PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE, CARCASS TRAITS, MEAT QUALITY AND BLOOD PROFILE IN RABBITS FED WITH MORINGA OLEIFERA

The M. oleifera plant has bioactive and nutritional compounds that could increase the productive performance of rabbits. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different concentrations of M. oleifera meal on growth performance, morphometric characteristics, carcass quality, meat quality and hematological parameters in rabbits. Forty-eight weaned rabbits (35 days of age) were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 12 by treatment). Animals were fed ad libitum a control diet as well as three experimental diets incorporating different concentrations of M. oleifera leaf meal (10, 20 and 30 %). Rabbits were slaughtered after 63 days of age without fasting. Results indicate that live weight was similar among treatments, but the group fed with a 20% concentration shows the highest productive performance parameters. Furthermore, this group had the longest animal length measurements, heaviest skin and hot carcass, as well as the lowest L* value and highest b* value. The hematological parameters were similar for all groups. It is concluded that M. oleifera meal at a 20% concentration could be an alternative supplement for the preparation of rabbit feed during the fattening period.