FEEDING VALUE OF BREWER'S GRAINS FOR FATTENING RABBITS

Twenty-four, individually cagad 5-week-old rabbits were used to determine the nutritive value of brewer's grains. Digestibility was determinad using the substitution method with rabbits aged 45 to 50 d of age. Sun dried brewer's grains was included in a standard basal diet. The inclusion leve!, at the expense of all basal ingredients arnounted to 30%. Both diets were pelleted. During the 6- weeks fattening trial rabbits showed a daily weight gain of 46.9g on the brewer's grains based diet. Daily weight gain tended to be higher on the basal diet due to the higher (P<0.05) feed intake. The digestibility of protein, ether extract, energy and ADF of brewer's grains was 75.5, 90.6, 39.5 and 17.5%, respect1vely. The digestible energy arnounted to 10.06 MJ/kg DM.