No abstract

Total of 20 New Zealand White (NZW) male bunnies weaned at 5 weeks of age having average live body weight of 620±20.2 g were used in experiment study to study the effect of daily treatment of chromium picolinate (CrP) on growth performance in relation to blood parameters, carcass traits, chemical analysis of meat and economic efficiency. Rabbits were divided into 2 groups, 10 animals in each. Rabbits in the 1 st group were served as control (G1) without any treatment. However, those in the 2 nd group (G2) were given daily oral dose from CrP at levels of 9 μg/kg body weight from 5 up to 10 weeks of age. All growing rabbits were kept under similar feeding and managerial conditions. Blood samples were collected biweekly for Cr determination and at slaughtering for biochemical determination. Three males from each group were randomly taken and slaughtered at 13 weeks of age for carcass traits and chemical composition of meat. Results show a tendency of slight improvement in growth performance of treated than in control rabbits, but the differences were not significant. Treatment with CrP decreased (P<0.05) concentration of albumin, albumin/globulin ratio, glucose, cholesterol, urea and creatinine, and activity of AST and ALT in serum. The group differences in concentration of total protein and globulin concentration were not significant. An increase (P<0.05) in net carcass weight and total weight of edible organs was observed in treated compared with control rabbits, reflecting impact of CrP treatment on dressing percentage (61.1 and 56.6%, respectively). Absolute and relative weights of heart were almost higher in treated than in control group. Weight of skin and legs was heavier in control than in treated group (433.3 vs. 369.7 g). Crude protein content in meat was higher (P<0.05) in G2 than in G1 (70.7 vs. 63.8%). Content of EE tended to decrease from 31.5% in G1 to 24.5% in G2. Chromium concentration was higher (P<0.05) in serum of G2 than in G1 by about 15%. Rabbits in G2 had higher Cr concentration in serum at all sampling times and in meat after slaughter (1.53 vs. 1.36 ppm) in G2 than in G1. Viability rate was 100 in G1 and G2 during the experimental period. Based on the foregoing results of the current study, treatment of growing rabbits with daily oral dose of chromium piclonate at a level of 9 µg/kg LBW improved growth performance, feed conversion, carcass quality and net revenue. The obtained high CP and Cr contents and low fat content in meat of rabbits treated with Cr may suggest the possibility of its consumption for diabetic patients and as anticholesteroleamic meat.

orty growing male New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits at 7 weeks of age with average live body weight of 772±8 g were chosen and used in a complete randomized design of four treatments (10 in each) for 12 weeks feeding period. Rabbits in the 1 st group were fed Commercial Rabbit Diet (CRD) without supplement (control, T1). While, in the 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th groups, diets contained 5.48, 10.97 and 16.45% Moringa oleifera Dry Leaves (MDL) to cover 10, 20 and 30% from protein content of CRD for T2, T3 and T4; respectively. Results showed higher CP and EE contents, but NFE content was lower in MDL in compared with CRD. The contents of DM, OM, CF and ash were similar among treatments. The digestibility coefficients of OM, CP, EE and NFE and feeding values as TDN, DCP and DE increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing levels of MDL. Dry matter content of the cecal digesta was significantly higher (P<0.05) in T4 (30% MDL) than T1 (control), however, cecal pH value revealed inverse trend. The concentrations of TVFA's and NH 3-N in cecal digesta increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing levels of MDL in diets. The concentrations of total protein, albumin and globulin increased significantly (P<0.05), however cholesterol concentration decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing levels of MDL. The intake of total DM and CP decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing levels of MDL. Average daily intake of TDN, DCP and DE were significantly highest (P<0.05) in T1 and T2. Final body weight, total and daily weight gain and growth performance index (GPI) increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing levels of MDL. The amounts of DM, TDN, CP, DCP and DE required for producing one kg weight gain decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing levels of MDL. Total feed cost and price of total weight gain increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing MDL. Feed cost per kg gain was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T4 compared to T1. Slaughter and carcass weights and dressing percentage increased significantly (P<0.05), but abdominal fat weight and the content of ether extract decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing the level of MDL supplementation compared with control. Results revealed that, it can be use moringa dry leaves with rate of 16>45% as a source of protein in growing rabbit diet. This level tended to increase digestibility coefficients, feeding values, improved feed and economical efficiencies. Moreover, dressing percentage and edible meat increased.

A total number of one hundred weanling New Zealand White rabbits aged five weeks were used in this study. Rabbits were randomly distributed into ten experimental treatments; each one contains 5 males and 5 females in individual cages. Five levels (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 %) of wheat screening by-product (WSP) and each level was fed without or with addition of enzyme preparation in 5×2 factorial design arrangement. Enzyme preparation ( containing β-Xylanase and α-Amylase) was added at 0 and 500 g/ ton of diets, during the experimental period from 5 to 12 weeks of age.The obtained results could be summarized as follows: The rabbits fed diet containing 5% WSP with enzymes significantly recorded the highest values of body weight, body weight gain and relative growth rate followed by those fed diet containing 10% WSP with enzyme addition. The rabbits fed diet containing 20% WSP without enzymes recorded the lowest significant values in these respects. The rabbits fed diet containing 20% WSP with enzymes consumed the highest amount of feed compared with those for other groups. The best feed conversion ratio was recorded for rabbits fed diet containing 5% WSP with enzymes additions followed by those for control, 10 and 15% WSP with enzymes addition compared with all other dietary treatments. Enzymes supplementation in diets containing WSP significantly improved the digestibility coefficients of nutrients and carcass traits of rabbits compared with other groups. Total protein, cholesterol and urea were significantly decreased by increasing the level of WSP in the experimental diets. However, the differences between rabbits fed diets containing different levels of WSP with or without enzymes addition and the control diet in albumin and globulin was not significant. Rabbits fed diets containing different levels of WSP and provided with enzymes recorded significantly the lowest values of cholesterol compared with those fed the diets containing WSP without enzymes and control diet. 106 ABAZA AND OMARAThe addition of enzymes in diets containing WSP significantly improved the liver functions. Chemical composition of meat did not significantly differ with the WSP and enzymes addition. Results showed an improvement in average values of net revenue, economical efficiency and relative economical efficiency due to feeding growing rabbits on diet containing 5% WSP with enzyme preparation.In conclusion, use of the WSP can be successfully fed at level 5 % of growing rabbit diets with enzymes supplementation (β-xylanase; αamylase) without any adverse effect on growth performance and economical efficiency, under Egyptian conditions.