Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Animal and Poultry Production, College of Environmental Agricultural Sciences, Arish University, Egypt.
2
Department of Animal and Poultry Prod., Faculty of Environ. Agric. Sci., Arish University, El-Arish, North Sinai, Egypt.
3
Department of Animal and Poultry Prod.,
Abstract
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to use sea grass (Posidonia oceanica, PO) as a partial substitute of alfalfa hay in growing rabbits’ diets. Also, to maintain the ecological balance, prevent environmental pollution and get rid of this marine waste. Forty-eight New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits, (aged 6 wk. and weighted about 749±24.22 g) allocated into comparable four groups (12 rabbits in each). Each group was divided into (4 replicate in each). The 1st group fed on basal diet (CON). The other three groups (SGR1, SGR2 and SGR3) fed on diets containing 7.5 ,15 and 22.5 % Posidonia oceanica, respectively. At the end of experiment, digestibility trial was carried out to assess the digestibility and nutritive values of the tested diets. Four rabbits from each treatment group were slaughtered to evaluate carcass traits, some blood indices and economical efficiency.
Results showed that feeding PO up to 22.5% did not effect on growth performance traits, such as live body weight (LBW), total weight gain (TWG), daily weight gain (DWG), total and daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), relative growth rate (RGR) and performance index (PI) at different ages (6- 14 weeks of age). Viability of SGR3 group was 83.33% versus 100% for the other three groups (CON, SGR1 and SGR2). Insignificant differences were registered in DM, CP and EE digestibility among the experimental diets. However, OM and NFE digestibility of CON diet were higher (P<0.05) than those of diets contains PO. CF digestibility was decreased significantly with increasing of PO inclusion in the experimental diets. Nutritive values as DCP (%), TDN (%) and DE (K cal/ kg diet) were decreased significantly with increasing levels of PO inclusion in the diets. Inclusion of PO in rabbit diets did not show any significant effect on all carcass traits, except abdominal fat, which was lower (P<0.05) in SGR1 as compared to CON group. No significant differences among treatment groups in most blood indices were observed, except albumin, Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and urea. Albumin value was lower (P<0.05) in SGR1 than CON group. Increasing of PO levels in the rabbit diets significantly affected ALT enzyme. However, SGR3 had higher value (P<0.05) than the other three groups. Serum AST was lower (P<0.05) in SGR2 group than CON and SGR1 groups. U-Nitrogen in SGR1 was lower (P<0.05) than in SGR2 and SGR3 groups. The present results showed that all serum parameters were in the normal range. The results showed that there were no significant differences between the comparison group and the rest of the experimental groups in most growth traits and blood characteristics.
Conclusively, it can be concluded that it is possible to replace PO up to 22.5% instead of expensive alfalfa hay in rabbit diets after weaning, which results in increasing the economic feasibility and reducing the cost of producing a kilo of meat in rabbit production farms. It could be concluded that dried Posidonia oceanica can be used up to 22.5% as replacement of alfalfa hay in rabbits’ diets without any harmful effects on growth performance, health status and economic efficiency under North Sinai conditions.
Keywords
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