Vol. 12, Issue 5 (2023)

Author(s):
Shanmuga Sundaram A, Venkataramanan R, Muthuramalingam T, Rajkumar K and Meenakshi Sundaram S

Abstract:
The “hydroponic fodder production” is the alternative technology to increase green fodder production with optimal utilization of land water and manpower. A study was conducted to assess the performance of Soviet Chinchilla rabbits under different feeding regimes. Sixteen Soviet Chinchilla-weaned bunnies were divided into two groups viz control - C: (Concentrate diet + Guinea grass) and treatment - T: (Concentrate diet + Hydroponic maize). Data on microclimatic variables, body weight, average daily body weight gain, average dry matter intake, cost of fodder production, cost of rabbit production/kg live weight, cost of feeding and reproductive performance were collected. There is no significant (p<0.01) difference in overall weight gain (g) between Control (1.0225 ± 0.04 kg) and Treatment (1.15 ± 0.04 kg) respectively. The overall average daily gain in C and T were 6.09 ± 0.24 and 6.83 ± 0.29 which showed no significance between the control and treatment. The overall dry matter intake from concentrate feed and green forage (g) in C and T were 100.25 ± 2.39 and 79.61 ± 1.27 which differed significantly between the treatment groups. The overall feed conversion ratio in C and T were 9.64 and 6.12. Reproductive performance viz age at age at first mating (days), age at first kindling (days) and litter size at birth was better in treatment when compared to control. The total cost incurred towards feeding of rabbits during the experimental period was Rs.151.05 per Kg live weight in control whereas it was Rs.208.03 per Kg live weight in treatment. Hydroponic fodder production technology can be recommended for broiler rabbit production in urban, peri-urban and areas where land availability for fodder production is a constraint.