The nutritive value and potential use of sundried sulla hay (Hedysarum flexuosum, g/kg as feed: 885 dry matter, 438 neutral detergent fibre (NDF), 337 acid detergent fibre (ADF), 80 acid detergent lignin and 147 crude protein (CP) for growing rabbits was studied by comparing three diets (regression method) containing an increasing inclusion rate of sulla hay (S): 0% (control, S0), 15 % (S15) and 30% (S30) in substitution for control diet (294 g NDF and 179 g CP/ kg). Three groups of 30 rabbits (individually caged) were fed ad libitum the three diets from weaning (35 d, mean weight: 572 ± 93g) to 84 d of age. Faecal digestibility of the diets was measured between 42 and 46 days of age on 10 rabbits per group. The digestible energy (DE) concentration of sulla hay estimated by regression was 8.96±0.57 MJ/kg DM, thus 7% higher than standard alfalfa meal, which would account for its high NDF digestibility (54.9%). Digestibility of crude sulla protein was estimated at 42.8%, corresponding to a digestible crude protein concentration of 71.1±8.9 g/kg DM. Even at a high incorporation rate in the feed (30%), sulla hay did not cause adverse effects on the animal growth (mean 36.0 g/d), feed intake (mean 119 g/d) or health. Feed conversion was better for a moderate rate of sulla inclusion in the diet (about 15%) than for a higher inclusion rate (3.14 vs. 3.36, P < 0.001). Health status and slaughter traits were not affected by the sulla incorporation rate. Sun-dried sulla hay (Hedysarum flexuosum) could thus be considered a good fibre source for the rabbit as a substitute for alfalfa meal.

The nutritive value of 2 types of sun-dried olive cake (OC), extracted traditionally (COC) or with a 3-phase olive cake (TPOC), was studied for the growing rabbit. Four diets containing 10 or 20% of COC (COC10 and COC20) or of TPOC (TPOC10 and TPOC20) in substitution for a basal diet were compared to a control diet without OC (OC0). Five groups of 12 rabbits were fed one of the 5 diets ad libitum from weaning (35 d) to 46 d of age. The faecal digestibility was individually measured between 42 and 46 d of age. COC and TPOC are high fibre and lignin sources, with 707 and 787 g/kg dry matter (DM) of neutral detergent fibre, 530 and 554 g/kg DM of acid detergent fibre, 242 and 243 g/kg DM of acid detergent lignin, respectively. Replacing 20% of basal diet by COC sharply reduced (P<0.001) the digestibility of energy and crude protein from 0.67 to 0.54, but that of protein only moderately (from 0.80 to 0.76). The same effect was observed with the incorporation of 20% of TPOC. The digestible energy (DE) content of COC and TPOC were calculated by regression and were 3.24±0.41 and 2.94±0.52 MJ DE/kg DM respectively, corresponding to an apparent faecal digestibility of the gross energy of 0.14 (COC) and 0.13 (TPOC). The apparent faecal digestibility of the crude protein of COC was 7 units higher than TPOC (0.44 vs. 0.37) and the digestible protein (DP) content was 20% higher (27.9±4.2 g vs.22.4±6 g DP/kg DM). Olive cake could be considered as a high fibre source with a low protein and energy content for the growing rabbit.

The nutritive value and potential use of sun-dried common reed (Phragmites australis) leaves (CRL), for growing rabbits was studied by comparing 3 diets (regression method) containing an increasing incorporation rate of CRL: 0% (control, CRL0), 15% (CRL15) and 30% (CRL30) in substitution for the control diet (356 g neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and 197 g crude protein (CP)/kg). Three groups of 37 rabbits (individually caged) were fed the 3 diets ad libitum from weaning (35 d, mean weight: 722±142 g) to 77 d of age. The faecal digestibility of the diets was measured between 42 and 46 d of age in 10 rabbits per group. CRL can be considered high-fibre roughage, as it contained 64% of NDF (38% of ADF and 10% ADL) and 10.2% of CP. The digestible energy (DE) content of CRL calculated by regression was null (–1.8±0.29 MJ/kg as fed). CP digestibility reached 29%, corresponding to a digestible crude protein concentration of 29.0±5.6 g/kg as fed basis. The fibre digestibility was reduced with CRL incorporation. Dietary incorporation of CRL impaired the rabbit growth (34.2 vs. 31.5 g/d during the period 35-77 d without CRL or with CRL (CRL15 and CRL30), respectively; P=0.002). Consequently, feed conversion was impaired with the high incorporation rate in feed (30%). Health status or main slaughter traits were not affected by CRL incorporation rate. Thus, the sun-dried common reed leaves had a poor nutritive value for growing rabbits and it can be considered a high-fibre feedstuff, interesting to supply low digested fibres (cellulose) and lignin.

The aim of this study is to explore the technical and economic aspects of cattle farms in mountain areas and to identify their technical constraints and potentialities. One hundred dairy cattle farmers were surveyed for seven months. The results show that the average farm size is 13 dairy cows and shows considerable variability at the sample level. For one-third of the farms, stabling is almost permanent and feed concentrate used as supplement (on average 7 kg /cow/day). 85% of the factors of production (useful agricultural area and possession of tractor) are owned by 45% of the breeders. Cow productivity averages is around 10.5 kg / day with two milkings / day. In addition, the average self-consumption of milk is 6 kg / day, which represents 2.8% of milk production. Feed expenses represent 90% of production costs. Annual income range from 99 909 AD / livestock unit (LU) nearly 148 421 AD / livestock unit. This variation is a function of the endowment of production resources. Subsidies for milk production represent 58% of the average income of farmers, what shows the low yield of dairy cattle farms. Today, with the drastic reduction in financial resources, dairy production development policies should focus on strategies to improve cow productivity and profitability in those areas.

Simplified diets are based on maximum incorporation of fodder and/or by-products into animal feed, thus minimizing the formulation and the costs. This study aimed to evaluate the possibility of feeding fattening rabbits with a simplified diet composed of only two agro-industrial by-products inexpensive and locally available: brewer’s grain and wheat bran. At weaning (35 days), 68 rabbits were divided into two identical groups (mean weight = 833 g) and housed in individual cages until slaughter (77 days). Each of the two groups (B0 and SF) was fed ad libitum either a commercial pelleted feed (control), or a simplified pelleted experimental diet "SF" containing 72% wheat bran and 27% brewer’s grain. The feed conversion was within the standards and similar in the two groups (3.55 on average). The growth rate and feed intake of B0 group were 12% higher (P <0.001) than that of the SF group (35.2g vs 31.2 and 128.3 vs 113 g/d). The cold carcass yield and the carcass weight were respectively higher (P <0.001) by 4 units and by 9% in the control group. The carcass of SF group was less fatty (perirenal fat: -23%, inguinal fat: -41% and scapular fat:-14%). The economic efficiency was 40% better for SF diet with almost 50 Algerian Dinar more benefit (/kg of meat) in current local market conditions.

Fifty-five Algerian white population rabbits were used to study the effect of the incorporation of Sulla hay (Hedysarum flexuosum) and common Reed leaves (Phragmites australis) in a pelleted feed on the growth of rabbits. At weaning (35 d), the rabbits were divided in two groups, individually caged and received ad libitum one of the two diets during 42 d. The control diet contained barley, dehydrated alfalfa, soya bean meal and wheat bran. The other diet (RS) was formulated to totally substitute barley and dehydrated alfalfa with Sulla hay and common Reed leaves. Feed intake increased distinctly in the RS group in the second period of fattening (150 vs 126). For the whole fattening period (35-77 d), growth rate was similar in the two groups (35.4 g/d) while the feed conversion was higher (p<0.01) in RS group (3.86 vs 3.23). This confirmed that using these fibre sources in a pelleted feed was valuable for fattening rabbit. Keywords: Rabbit, Growth performances, Phragmites australis, Hedysarum flexuosum.