Seventy two rabbits, 35 days old and weighing 622g average body weight, were used for the present study. The rabbits were randomly assigned into 4 equal treatments (n=18). Animals in treatment 1 served as a control group and were given basal diet without supplementation, while rabbits in treatments 2, 3 and 4 were given nano-copper in the diet at levels 25, 50 and 75 mg/kg diet, respectively. The experiment lasted for 8 weeks. The results revealed that, rabbits fed diets supplemented with 50 or 75 mg Cu/ kg diet as Nano-Cu recorded significantly higher (P<0.01) final body weight and performance index also, recorded better feed conversion ratio during all growth periods than the control group. The group of rabbits fed diet supplemented with 50 mg Nano-Cu/kg diet significantly achieved the best relative growth rate percentage. Dietary supplementation with 50 mg Nano-Cu /kg diet significantly recorded higher carcass, fore part, trunk and hind part percentages comparing with the control group, it also significantly reduced abdominal fat by 28.4%. The Nano-Cu supplementation significantly (P<0.05) increased activity of superoxide dismutase enzyme compared with the control group. Copper content in rabbits liver significantly increased by increasing dietary Nano-Cu. Dietary Nano-Cu supplementation significantly (P<0.05) increased the population of total bacterial count and lactolacillus counts and decreased the population of ureolytic bacteria, Escherichia coli and clostridium spp. Supplementation of Nano-Cu to rabbit diets significantly increased plasma hemoglobin, red blood cells count and lymphocytes percentage. Economical efficiency

The present study was intended to investigate the influence of using 20% and 40% treated or untreated wheat germ meal in growing New Zealand rabbit diets. A total of 75 weaned New Zealand White rabbits aged six weeks old, with an average initial weight of 659.60±18.84g were divided into five groups with five replicates in each group (three rabbits per replicate). The first group was fed on a basal diet (T 1 ), second and third groups received diets containing Wheat Germ Meal (WGM), as replacement of soybean meal protein, at levels of 20% and 40% and were labeled as T 2 , T 3 , respectively. Fourth and fifth groups were fed with 20% and 40% autoclave-treated WGM (T 4 and T 5 , respectively). The trial was continued until 14 weeks of age. The present study was evaluated growth performance, blood parameters, carcass traits, meat quality in different groups and also economic efficiency was calculated. There were insignificant differences in terms of live weight, daily weight gain, carcass weight and dressing percentages among rabbits in groups of T 1 , T 2 , and T 4 . Rabbits in the group of T 4 achieved the best feed conversion ratio. Digestion coefficients of crude protein, crude fiber, ether extract, nitrogen-free extract, and nutritive value in terms of digestible crude protein, total digestible nutrition, and digestible energy did not significantly differ between T 1 and T 4 . However, these factors significantly decreased in T3 and T 5 compared to T 1 . Plasma total protein and globulin significantly increased in rabbits of T 2 and T 4 compared to those fed in T 1 group. A significant decrease in total cholesterol and total lipid for rabbits in groups of T 4 , T 5, and T 2 was observed. Moreover, rabbits fed on T 4 or T 2 diets had the highest economic efficiency. Conclusively, the untreated or autoclaved WGM can be used in growing rabbit diets up to 20% for replacing the soybean meal protein, which caused low feed costs without adverse effects on the growth performance of rabbits.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementing date palm pollen (DPP) and it's aqueous extract (DPPE) on Fayoumi cocks growth performance, antioxidant status, immune response, meat quality and economical efficiency. A total number of 180day old cocks, were divided to 6 groups, each had 30 chicks in 3 replicates. The 1 st group was fed a basal diet (Control group), 2 nd group was fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.0125% Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), 3 rd and 4 th groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.1% and 0.3% DPP, respectively and 5 th and 6 th groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.1% and 0.3% DPPE, respectively. The growth trail lasted for 12 weeks of age. The results obtained reveal that chicks fed either 0.1% DPP (T3) or 0.1% DPPE (T5) recorded an improvement in final live weight by 4.93% and 2.88% as well as enhancing feed conversion ratio during overall period (1-12 wks) by 6.94% and 2.02% respectively compared to control. While, Newcastle disease virus titer did not affected significantly by any supplementation studied. Chicks fed dietary 0.0125% BHT, 0.1% DPP and 0.1% DPPE recorded significantly lower serum total cholesterol compared to control group. All groups recorded a significant decline in MDA values in chicks' tissue in relative to control. In opposite, total antioxidant capacity in tissue was increased significantly by 5.05% and 7.03% in T3 and T5, respectively relative to the control. Chicks fed 0.0125% BHT, 0.1% DPP and 0.1% DPPE achieved significantly higher hemoglobin values compared to control. Finally, two groups of T3 (0.1% DPP) and T5 (0.1% DPPE) recorded the highest economical return being (118.8%) and (102.15%), respectively compared to control. Conclusion: supplementing Fayoumi cocks diet with either 0.1% DPP or DPPE could enhance performance, antioxidant status, meat quality as well as increasing economical profit.

No abstract

The present studywas designed to evaluate the influence of supplementing different levels of L-Valine (L-Val) to low protein diet on chicks' performance, carcass characteristics , digestibility of nutrients andeconomical efficiency. A total number of 640 unsexed day old Arbor Acres meat-type chickswere assigned randomly into 8 equal treatments containing 80 chicks each (10 birds/ replicate). The first group (control) was fed strain recommendation of CP being 23%, 21% and 19% with 0.96, 0.88 and 0.79% digestible valine during starter, grower and finisher periods, respectively (T1). The 2 nd group was feddiets with a 3% CPless thanthe control, being 20%, 18% and 16% and contained 0.89, 0.79 and 0.69% digestible valine level during the same growth phasesrespectively, as control (T2). Other six groups were fed low-CP diet (LPD) supplemented with 250mg, 500mg, 750mg, 1000 mg, 1250 mg and 1500 mgL-Val/kg diet, respectively. The study lasted for 38 days. The results were as follows:1-The best BWG and FCR during overall growth period was achieved by chicks fed the LPD supplemented with 500 mg Val/kg diet, and control group (T1) without significant differences between them.2-Valine digestibility was ranged between 91.17 to 97.03%.3-Control group achieved significantly the lowest abdominal fat percentage as compared to the other groups fed LPD either with or without valine supplementation.4-Chicks fed the LPD plus 500 mg Val/kg diet attained the highest means of economic efficiency and its relative value by 103.2% and 114.2% as compared to those fed the recommended protein diet and LPD, respectively. In conclusion, the best level of added Val is 500 mg/kg diet for broilers fed LPDsupplemented with sufficient amount of Methionine, Lysine, Threonine which coincided with the best Val/Lys ratio during starter, grower and finisher periods. Also, it achieved an improvement in economic efficiency and growth performance of broilers.