105 male Bianca Italiana rabbits were randomly divided
into seven groups at the weaning stage (30 d of age), single
housed in three-fl oor cages, and fed ad libitum until the end
of the trial (78 d of age). In order to meet the nutrient requirements
of the rabbits a basal diet (dry matter 88.5% DM,
crude protein 19.7% CP, ether extract 3.3% EE, neutral detergent
fi bre 36.9% NDF, acid detergent fi bre 20.6% ADF,
digestible energy 11.71 MJ kg-1 DE on DM) was formulated,
and fed pelleted. A control group (C) was assigned to the
basal diet. The other six groups were fed with the same diet