Energy and Protein Retention of Local Rabbit Housed in Different Cages

An experiment was carried out to study microclimate, energy and protein retention of local rabbit offered diets with different energy and protein level. Sixty four rabbits of five week old were used in this study and housed in battery and underground cages. A split-plot design consisting of two main plots: underground shelter (K0) and battery housing systems (K1), four sub plot: diets with 2200 kcal ME kg-1 and 14% CP (R1), 2400 kcal ME kg-1 and 15.5% CP (R2), 2600 kcal ME kg-1 and 17% CP (R3), 2800 kcal ME kg-1 and 18.5% CP (R4) with four replicates used in each of experiment. The results showed that underground shelter cage had lower temperatures and humidity (P<0.05) than the battery cage. Rabbits housed in underground shelter had higher energy retention (P<0.05) than those housed in battery cages. Rabbit housed in underground shelter had lower heat production than those housed in battery cages (85.51 kcal ME W0,75d-1 vs. 120.68 kcal ME W0,75d-1). Diets R3 fed to local male rabbits had higher energy retention (P<0.05) which is 60.05 kcal d-1 compared to that was 48.65 kcal d-1, 35.64 kcal d-1 and 31.63 kcal d-1, respectively. Rabbit fed R3 diet had the lowest heat production that was 89.12 kkalW0,75d-1 (P>0,05) compared to R4, R1 and R2 was 104.64 kcalW0,75d-1, 106.86 kcalW0,75d-1, and 111.75 kcalW0 75d-1 respectively. It can be concluded that rabbits offered diets contained energy 2600 kcal ME kg-1 and 17% CP (R3) and housed in underground shelter cage found efficient use of energy and protein for growth. Keywords: Local Rabbit, Microclimate, Energy Retention, Under Ground Shelter cage and Battery cage.