Le transit digestif chez le Lapin. VII. — Influence de la finesse du broyage des constituants d'un aliment granulé

Abstract

Californian rabbits [30] of both sexes received ad lib the same pelleted feed (including 50% alfalfa). Previously to the pelleting, the feed ingredients were either coarsely or finely ground, or the alfalfa alone was finely ground. After 2 wk (habituation) and at 8 wk old, a single dose of 141Ce was given. The fecal excretion was then measured during the next 72. The fine grinding of feed ingredients before pelleting led to an increase of the retention time (+ 6 h) without any change in the excretion rhythm of hard feces. The decrease in the quantity of daily excreted dry matter (33-25 g) followed the improvement of the apparent dry matter digestibility (70-77%). The fine grinding of alfalfa alone gave intermediate results.