5. Conclusions
The increase of dietary starch from 60 to 147 g/kg and of the starch to ADF ratio from 0.26 to 0.73, as well as the increase of dietary soluble fibre from 100 to 138 g/kg, positively affected caecal fermentations, rabbit feed efficiency and performance. Within the tested range of starch and fibre levels, soluble fibre is recommended to be used in association with, rather than in replacement of, starch.
Acknowledgements
This study was funded by MIUR (PRIN 2005-Prot. 2005070702). The Authors wish to thank Dr. Andrea Zuffellato (Veronesi Verona S.p.A., Italy) for his technical assistance during the trial and Prof. Steven Lukefahr (Texas A&M University, Kingsville, TX, USA) for his critical revision of the text.