his study aim to evaluate the effect of crude Egyptian propolis supplementation to growing New Zeland white rabbits diets on growth performance, nutrients digestibility, carcass characteristics and meat quality. A total of 180 unsexed weaned rabbits at six weeks of age were randomly distributed into four groups. The groups were fed diet supplemented with 0, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg crude propolis. The experimental period extended for eight weeks. The results showed that supplemented propolis to growing rabbit diets significantly (P<0.01) increased final live body weight and body weight gains, and significantly (P<0.05) improved feed conversion ratio, while total feed intake decreased insignificantly compared with control group. There were no significant differences in DM, CF, EE and NFE digestibility coefficients. While, the digestibility coefficients of OM and CP, and the nutritive values DCP and TDN were significantly increased. Supplementing rabbit diets with propolis also significantly (P<0.01) improved carcass, dressing and total edible parts percentages, whereas heart, kidney, liver and giblets were not affected. Propolis supplementation significantly (P<0.01) decreased abdominal fat percentages and insignificantly decreased shoulder fat percentages. The inclusion of propolis in diet significantly increased the spleen percentages (p<0.01) and impiety small intestine percentages (p<0.05). There were no significant differences for total protein and pHu in meat between all treatment groups. Increasing propolis level in the diet significantly decreased total cholesterol, triglycerides and malondialdehyde. The addition of propolis in the rabbit diet positively influenced the physical properties of rabbit meat by significantly decreasing (P<0.01) its drip and cook loss percentages. It can be concluded that propolis addition in growing New Zeland rabbit diets improved productive performance, some nutrient digestibility, some carcass characteristics and meat quality.
The present study aimed to investigate the effects of different levels of dietary supplementation of bay laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) leaves meal (LNL) on growth performance, carcass traits, blood constituents, hematology and plasma antioxidant status of New Zealand White rabbits (NZW). Weaned New Zealand White rabbits 5 weeks old (n = 40, mean body weight 648 g) were randomly selected and classified to four dietary groups. The Control group was fed a basal diet without (LNL); the experimental groups received the basal diet with 1, 2 and 4 g LNL meal/kg diet (Groups LN1g, LN2g and LN4g, respectively). The experimental period lasted for 8 weeks. Results indicated that group LN4g rabbits recorded significantly the highest body weight at 9,11 and 13 weeks of age followed by LN2g. Also, LN4g recorded significantly the best feed conversion ratio followed by LN2g in comparison with the control group. There were no significant differences due to LNL supplementation in carcass characteristics, blood hematology, blood biochemistry and plasma antioxidant status. However, LNL supplementation numerically reduced abdominal fat, total plasma cholesterol (T.Ch), triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol compared to control, while, increased total protein, globulin and HDL cholesterol and the differences were not significant. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione peroxidase activity (GPx) and catalase enzyme were not significantly affected by LNL supplementation. Generally, the results of the study revealed that bay laurel leaves were useful as a natural supplementation to promote growth of rabbits, with 4g LNL/kg diet being the best and could reduce the negative effects of summer conditions in rabbits.
The current study has been conducted in Rabbit Research Unite in Sakha Station, located in Kafr El-Sheikh governorate. Using 24 of New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit does aged between 8-10 months and their average initial body weight was 3377 ± 36.7g. Divided into four groups, G1 was served as control group and fed on commercial pellets with no any additions. The other three groups, G2, G3 and G4 fed on diets supplemented with Aloe Vera (AV) powder at levels 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg diet, respectively.The results showed that, rabbits subjected to severe heat stress during months of July, August and September (THI= 30.5, 31.8 and 29.9, respectively). While, the corresponding value of THI during October and November month value was 27.7 and 24.7, respectively, indicated moderate and no heat stress. The antioxidant status was in overall, higher in TAC levels with lower levels of MDA in supplemented groups with AV than that in the control one. During summer season, litter size at birth and weaning age was lower in G1 (6.2 ± 0.33 and 4.3± 0.33, respectively) compared to supplemented groups. The G3 was the highest group in litter size, recorded 7.0 ± 0.33 at birth vs. 6.8± 0.33 and 6.7± 0.33 in G2 and G4, respectively. Whilst, in autumn litter size was not differed between groups and they almost close to each other. Furthermore, AV, during summer season, especially at level 1g/kg diet (G3), helped rabbit does to deliver their kits with higher body weight (280.8± 12.7 g) than that in other groups. At weaning age, those kits (of G3) recorded the highest body weight, 2450.8± 71.8 than that in G1, G2 and G4. In autumn, no significant differences in kits body weight at birth, day 21 of lactation and weaning age were found among experimental groups. In the same line, no significant differences between groups in kits body weight gain and milk conversion ratio 136 ENAYAT ABO EL-AZAYEM et al.in both seasons summer and autumn. Moreover, enhances the antioxidant status of NZW rabbit does (TAC and MDA) especially in G4. Conclusively, the G4 was the best group in most of the studied parameters (litter weight, milk production, lower mortality rate, with higher TAC and lower MDA) than the other three groups.
The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of using discarded palm fronds (DPF) and biologically treated discarded palm fronds (Bio-DPF) with effective microorganisms (EM 1) to replace 25 and 50 % of clover hay in growing New Zealand rabbit diets on growing rabbit performance. A total number of 60 unsexed, weaned of 6 weeks old rabbits were randomly divided into five experimental treatments (12 ⁄ treatments). Five pelleted diets were as follows: 1: A control without discarded palm fronds 2, 3 ,4 and 5: 25 or 50 of clover hay was replaced with DPF and Bio-DPF. The growth trail lasted 8 weeks. Results indicate that biological treatments improved chemical composition of discarded palm fronds, mainly CP content was markedly increased and CF was decreased. Final live body weight and total weight gain were significantly decreased with 50% DPF diet. Feeding on Bio-DPF diets improved final body weight and weight gain but not significantly affected by dietary treatments. Total feed intake did not significantly affected by dietary treatments. Total feed conversion was significantly improved with feeding on 25% Bio-DPF diet compared to other treatments. Also, 25% Bio-DPF group significantly had the highest relative growth rate compared to other treatments without holding significant difference with 50% Bio-DPF groups. Again, 25% Bio-DPF group showed (P˂0.05) the highest performance index compared to other treatments which did not differ significantly. Digestibilities of CP and CF were significantly the best upon feeding rabbits on Bio-DPF diets followed by the control and 25% DPF which did not differ significantly compared to the 50% DPF group. Nutritive values in terms of DCP and TDN were significantly improved compared to the control. Also DE (Kcal ⁄ kg diet) significantly improved with 25% Bio-DPF diet compared to the control group. Dressing% was significantly improved with feeding on Bio-DPF diets and the least value was with feeding on 50% DPF diet.
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