Growth Performance, Nutrients Digestibility and Carcass Measurements of Growing Rabbits Fed Diets Incorporated With Lentil or Chickpea Screening by-Products.

Abstract

his work aimed to study the influence of replacement 15 or 30% of soybean meal protein by either lentil screening by-products protein (LSBP) or chickpea screening by-products protein (CSBP) on performance, nutrients digestibility, plasma parameters, carcass measurements and economic profitability of growing rabbits. Sixty New Zealand White (NZW) growing rabbits, six weeks of age, were divided to five experimental groups. Each group included four replicates (three rabbits each) as follow: control group fed basal diet without LSBP or CSBP; the 2 nd , 3 th , 4 th and 5 th groups of rabbits fed 15% LSBP, 30% LSBP, 15% CSBP and 30% CSBP diets, respectively. Results showed that LSBP has lower DM, OM and EE contents than CSBP. Meanwhile, LSBP has higher CP, CF, ash% and GE (kcal/kg) contents compared to CSBP. LSBP was higher in arginine, threonine, isoleucine, and lysine. Meantime, CSBP had higher contents in leucine, methionine and phenylalanine as predominant essential amino acids. Inclusion of LSBP and CSBP insignificantly improved FBW, BWG and FCR. However, average daily feed intake of rabbits fed 15% CSBP was higher (P<0.05) than those fed 30% CSBP. No significant differences were observed in all nutrients digestibility (DM, OM, CP, EE and NFE) and nutritive values expressed as DCP%, TDN% and DE Kcal/kg between groups of rabbits fed LSBP and CSBP diets and those fed the control diet. Meanwhile, group of rabbits fed 30% LSBP had higher (P<0.05) CP digestibility. Conversely, group of rabbits fed 30% CSBP recorded the lowest (P<0.05) CP digestibility. Significant higher (P<0.05) values of plasma total protein and albumin concentrations were recorded for rabbits fed diets contained 30% LSBP, 15 or 30% CSBP than the control group. Moreover, there were insignificant differences in globulin and uric acid among all the experimental groups. Regarding liver functions (AST and ALT), there was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in AST levels with rabbits fed 30% LSBP and 15 or 30% CSBP compared to the control group. No significant differences in most carcass measurements were found between rabbits fed different levels of LSBP and CSBP diets and those fed the control diet except heart, kidneys weights and total edible parts %. The inclusion of LSBP at a level of 15% significantly decreased (P<0.05) total edible parts % compared with the inclusion of 30% CSBP and the control group. The net revenue improved by 4. 16, 7.75, 3.43 and 9.52% for 15% LSBP, 30% LSBP, 15% CSBP and 30% CSBP, respectively. The best net revenue and economical efficiency were recorded by 30% CSBP diet followed by 30%LSBP, 15%LSBP, 15% CSBP diets and the lowest one was the control group. In conclusion, lentil or chickpea screening by-products protein could be used up to 30% substitution level for soybean meal protein without any detrimental effects on performance, nutrient digestibility, plasma parameters and carcass measurements of growing rabbits.

Effect of Substituting Lentil Screening by-Product for Soybean Meal on Growth Performance, Nutrients Digestibility and Carcass Parameters of Growing Rabbits

“…Whereas, liver%, kidneys% and edible giblets % were not statistically affected by the inclusion of LSB in rabbit's diets. The results are inconsistent with previous studies (Suliman et al, 2019) who suggested that the inclusion of lentil screening by-product protein at a level of 15% significantly decreased (P<0.05) total edible parts % compared with the control group. Moreover, Ayaşan et al, (2018) found that the use of lentil by-products in quail's diets at levels of 5, 10, 15 and 20% reduced the dressing percentage than in the control group, even though the reduction was significant in 5 and 10% of lentil by-products fed groups.…”

“…While, TDN and DE values were higher (P<0.05) with rabbits group fed 5% LSB than those fed 15% LSB. This finding agreed with those reported by Suliman et al, (2019) who stated that no significant changes were noticed in all nutrients digestibility of DM, OM, CP, CF, EE and NFE between groups of rabbits fed 15 and 30%LSBP. This study reveals that the enhanced digestibility in the groups fed diets contained different levels of LSB can be attributed to protein structures and energy content of LSB as it was mentioned in Table (2) that lentil screening by-product have a relatively high protein (26.60%) and gross energy content (4400 kcal/kg) and low digestive inhibitors.…”

“…Both groups fed 10 and 15% LSB diets had lower (P<0.05) values of total cholesterol, the inclusion of LSB decreased (P<0.05) the creatinine level of plasma. These results are in agreement with the observations of Suliman et al, (2019) who reported significantly higher (P<0.05) levels of plasma total protein and albumin concentrations for rabbits fed diets contained 30% lentil screening byproducts protein than the control group. Also, there was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in AST level with rabbits fed 30% lentil screening by-products protein.…”

“…The reduction of feed cost was explained by the low and competitive price of LSB compared to soybean meal, additionally, the improvement of the growth performance for LSB groups compared with the control group. These results are in agreement with those obtained by Suliman et al, (2019) who stated that the inclusion of lentil screenings by-products protein at a level of 30% of soybean protein in growing rabbits has the best net revenue and economical efficiency. It can be concluded that lentil screenings by-products can be economically used as a sole protein and energy source in diets for growing rabbits.…”

“…However, the inclusion of LSB at the tested levels of 5, 10 and 15% had no significant impact on FCR. Nevertheless, the findings of the current study are in line with those of Suliman et al (2019) who stated that lentil screening by-product protein could be used up to 30% substitution level for soybean meal protein without any adverse effects on rabbit's performance. Ayaşan et al 2018published similar findings, and found that lentil by-products could be added into quail diets up to 15% with no negative impact on live body weight.…”