Effect of Different Dietary Starch and Protein Levels on Productive Performance of Growing Rabbits

Abstract

eventy two New Zealand White rabbits (NZW) at 25 days of age were used to study the effect of of different dietary starch and protein levels on productive performance, nutrients digestibility coefficients, carcass characteristics, digestive tract measurements, blood constituents, enzymes activity and economical evaluation. The rabbits were fed on six experimental diets containing 3 levels of starch {16 (LS), 19 (MS) and 22% (HS)} and 2 levels of protein {14 (LP) and 16% (OP)} in a factorial arrangement design. The results obtained are summarized as follows:-Best results for live body weight (LBW) were obtained for rabbits fed 16% starch and 14% protein diet at the end of growth period (81 days of age). Decreasing of dietary starch and protein levels had a positive effect on average daily body weight gain (DBWG) in overall growth period (25-81 d.). Daily feed consumption (DFC) was affected by different levels of starch, but no protein level. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was improved at moderate dietary starch and low dietary protein levels. Mortality rate of growing rabbits improved due to decreasing dietary protein levels. However, dietary starch levels had no effect.-Rabbits fed low levels of starch and protein in their rations significantly increased DM, OM, CP, NFE, starch and sugar digestibility coefficients and nutritive values (TDN and DCP). Neither dietary starch nor protein levels had impact on CF, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and EE digestibility.-There were not significant effects of starch and protein levels on dressing percentage, hot carcass weights (%), blood total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin/globulin ratio, liver activity enzymes (GOT and GPT). While, high starch level in the diet increased significantly liver weight (%) regardless of protein content.-Blood glucose, triglycerides and total protein content, amylase and protease enzymes activity in the stomach, ileum and cecum were significantly increased, while degree of pH for stomach, ileum and cecum contents was decreased by decreasing starch and protein levels in the diet. In addition, non-significant was observed in the cellulase and carboxymethylcellulase as affected by the different levels of protein and starch in all segents of the digestive tract. The results show that, total VFAs in the cecum and blood were high with 16% starch and 14% protein.-Economic efficiency and performance index were improved for rabbits fed (MS-LP) diet. However, production efficiency factor was improved for rabbits fed (LS-LP) diet. In growing rabbits, it was concluded that high correlation exists between dietary starch and protein levels which was reflected on productive performance, digestibility coefficients, digestive tract measurements and economic efficiency.

Effect of Type of Vegetable Oil and Vitamin C on Some Productive Qualities of Broiler Breeders

“…As for the weight of eggs in the total period, the interpretation of the results was identical to that of the results in the second period. The above results agreed with the results of [23] when he added vitamin C at a concentration of 200 mg/kg to the diet of laying hens and did not find a significant difference in egg weight compared to the control group, and they agreed with the results of [24] When vitamin C was added to quail feed at a concentration of 200 parts per million of feed, no significant difference appeared in the average egg weight compared to the control group. The results agreed with the the researcher [25], who did not record a significant increase in egg weight when using a mixture of soybean oil and flax oil by 3%.…”

Effect of Diet Supplementation with Oat Hay and Whole Carrot on Rabbit Growth and Productive Efficiency

“…Such differences may be the result of the diet's lower protein content, a consequence of whole carrot and oat hay lower protein content than concentrated feed. Our results do not corroborate the compensatory mechanism of nitrogen transfer in the rabbit's digestive system when fed low protein content diets previously presented [19]. On the other hand, reducing the dietary protein content decreases ileal protein flow and reduces pathogens proliferation and mortality during the fattening period [20], which is in agreement with the absence of deaths among the rabbits used in the trial.…”

Nutritional value, productive performance, and economic efficiency response to the degree of steam‐flaked yellow corn in growing rabbits

“…Previous studies have shown the positive effect of feeding processed corn on the BW and BWG of animals (Hemid et al, 2015). The increase in BW and BWG of growing rabbits may be attributed to that the starch gelatinisation enhances the quality of digestion and growth rate by increasing the ability to benefit from nutrients and lower starch crystallinity of SFC, induced by the high temperature and pressure, either by digestion or by absorption in the intestines of growing rabbits.…”