Effect of dietary inclusion of purslane on performance and content of fatty acids in meat of growing rabbits

Abstract

This research was carried out in order to assess the effect of including Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) on the performance of growing rabbits and meat´s fatty acids profile. Twenty Californian rabbits (1.28 ± 0.081 kg LW) were used in a completely randomized design for 49 days. The treatments were: control diet (with no purslane) and diet with purslane. Rabbit weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass yield and the fatty acid profile of the carcass meat were measured (palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and α-linolenic acids). As results higher dry matter intake (p<0.001) was obtained with the control diet (4.49 vs. 3.47 Kg, respectively), promoting a higher estimated total digestible energy (DE) intake in control diet (p<0.001) (58.48 vs 48.67 MJ, respectively), however weight gain, feed conversion ratio and carcass yield were similar for rabbits fed both diets (p>0.05) (0.89 vs. 0.78 kg). In spite fatty acids intake was similar for both diets (p>0.05) (618.62 vs. 598.06 mg/ Kg DM) except for stearic acid content of meat which was higher (p<0.05) in diet with purslane. Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) can be fed to rabbits up to 30% of diet promoting acceptable growth rates, feed conversion ratio and carcass yield for tropical conditions. Purslane inclusion in rabbit diets had little effect on fatty acid profile; However further research with purslane should explore interactions among higher levels of inclusion and longer feeding periods.