FEEDING PROGRAMS COULD IMPROVE GROWTH PERFORMANCE, AND PHYSIOLOGICAL STATUS OF GROWING NEW ZEALAND WHITE RABBITS DURING THE HOT SUMMER SEASON OF EGYPT.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Poultry Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Egypt.

2 Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt

3 Animal Production Research Institute, Agric. Research Center, Giza, Egypt.

4 Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, New Valley University, Egypt.

5 Department of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Beni-Suef Univ., Egypt.

6 Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Egypt.

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Effects of feeding program (times and quantities) on some growth performance, blood biochemistry, carcass traits and behavioral patterns of male New Zealand White rabbits (NZW) during summer season were investigated. Weaned NZW rabbits (80 bucks) were similarly randomly (735±4.7 g) assigned into five experimental groups. Rabbits of the first group were fed ad libitum (control; C). The second group (T1) was fed 75% of diet at the morning and 25% of diet at the night (7 PM); the third group (T2) was fed 50% of diet at the morning and 50% of diet at the night; the fourth group (T3) was fed 25% of diet at the morning and 75% of diet at the night; the fifth one (T4) was fed 100% of diet at the night.
Rabbits of T3 group showed the heaviest body weight and body weight gain and the best feed conversion ratio during 14-16 weeks of age. Groups of T3 and T4 showed the highest percentage of dressed carcass and the lowest abdominal fat. Rabbits of T3 had the lowest activity of alanine aminotransferase (AST), the lowest value of rectal temperature and the highest glucose concentration.
Conclusively, feeding during the night was preferable in rabbit farms due to its useful impacts on growth, under heat stress of summer months of Egypt. 
 

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