EFFECT OF INTERACTION BETWEEN SEASON AND ARAK (Salvadora persica) SUPLEMENTATION ON RABBITS: 1- PRODUCTIVE AND SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE OF GROWING RABBITS.

Abstract

Ninety-six weaned New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits, aged 30 day and weighing average 586±13.23 g were used in this study during winter and summer seasons. In each season, two groups were used; the first group was fed ad libitum a commercial pelleted diet and was kept untreated to serve as a control, while the other group was fed the same diet, but supplemented with 0.2% dried Arak powder. Daily weight gain, feed intake and some thermo-respiratory responses were recorded from weaning up to 12 week of age. At this time ten rabbits from each group were slaughtered and carcass characteristics were measured and blood samples were collected. Results obtained showed that final body weight at 12 week of growing NZW rabbits increased significantly (P≤0.05) with Arak inclusion under winter and summer seasons compared to control group, whereas daily feed intake had insignificant differences as Arak treatment. Dietary supplementation of Arak to NZW rabbits either in winter or summer season caused significant (P≤0.05) increased in some haematological and biochemical parameters. Interaction between season and Arak addition effects were significant (P≤0.05 or P≤0.01) on weights of carcass and its components. The lowest values of all thermo-respiratory traits were recorded for rabbits reared during winter season than those in the summer season. Also, results demonstrated that rabbits treated with Arak in the summer season retained rabbit's respiration rate and rectal and skin temperatures to nearly that of the untreated group in the winter season. The present results indicate an improvement in net profit, by about 20%, for rabbits fed diet containing Arak compared to those fed diet with no addition.