Effect of Stocking Density with Supplementation Probiotic on Productive and Economical Performance in Local Growing Rabbits

Abstract

An indoor experiment with factorial design (3 × 2) was conducted to investigate the effect of different levels of dietary Saltose Ex ® probiotic on productive performance and economic efficiency parameters of growing black Balady rabbits reared under different stocking density (SD) rates for 7 weeks. A total of 72 rabbits (7 weeks old) were divided into six treatments. The experimental treatments were being as follow; T 1 : rabbits fed basal diet (BD) + 0.0 g probiotic / Kg diet and reared under SD of 3 rabbits / cage, T 2 : rabbits fed BD + 0.4 g probiotic / Kg diet and reared under SD of 3 rabbits / cage, T 3 : rabbits fed BD + 0.0 g probiotic / Kg diet and reared under SD of 4 rabbits / cage, T 4 : rabbits fed BD + 0.4 g probiotic / Kg diet and reared under SD of 4 rabbits / cage, T 5 : rabbits fed BD + 0.0 g probiotic / Kg diet and reared under SD of 5 rabbits / cage and T 6 : rabbits fed BD + 0.4 g probiotic / Kg diet and reared under SD of 5 rabbits / cage during the period from 7 to 14 weeks of age. The obtained results revealed that addition of 0.4 g Saltose Ex ® /Kg diet not only alleviated the drastic effects of high SD on rabbits, but also significantly improved of growth performance, nutrients utilization, carcass quality traits, microbial activity, hematological parameters, besides it led to slightly increased of economic efficiency parameters of growing rabbits especially those reared under high SD (5 rabbits / cage). Thus, it could be concluded the addition of 0.4 g Saltose Ex ® / Kg diet had useful and practical effects on performance of growing black Balady rabbits reared under high stocking density, specifically reared in cages.