EFFECT OF GUAR KORMA MEAL IN NEW ZEALAND WHITE DOE RABBITS DIETS ON PRODUCTIVE AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Animal Production Research Institute, Agriculture research Center, Dokki , Giza, Egypt.

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of inclusion of guar korma (Gyamopsis tetragonloba L.) meal (GKM) in rabbit diet on performance of New Zealand White (NZW) does during gestation and lactation on growth performance of weanlings. Forty multi-parious does 8-12 month old were allocated to five GKM dietary treatments: 0.0 (control), 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0%. Does were naturally inseminated and housed separately in individual wired-cages. All animals were kept under the same management and hygienic conditions. Parameters live body weight and feed intake for does after gestation and lactation period were recorded. Also milk yield, litter size and litter weight were recorded weekly. Feed cost and some blood parameters were studied. Results indicated that feeding 5.0 % GKM significantly increased feed intake during gestation and lactation, while feeding 7.5 and 10.0% GKM diets resulted in inferior feed intake. Does fed on 5.0 % GKM recorded significantly the highest milk yield during four weeks of lactation compared with other groups. Litter size at birth and weaning were significantly higher in the control and 5.0% GKM groups than 2.5, 7.5 and 10.0% GKM group. Litter weights at birth and corresponding litter weight gains and through 4-week lactation period were increased with dietary GKM 5.0% while it decreased in the rest of treatments. Also, GKM at 2.5 and 5.0 % recorded the higher kid weight, kid weight gain and kid daily gain compared with the other groups. Total protein, albumin, globulin and glucose concentrations were increased with feeding on 5.0% GKM diet compared with other treatments, while control showed the highest concentration of triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) in plasma. Adding the GKM to doe rabbits diet did not alter transaminase (aspartate aminotransferase, AST and alanine aminotransferase, ALT) activity. The lowest feeding cost per weaned recorded with 5.0% GKM group compared with other treatments.
Based on the overall obtained results it could be recommended to include guar korma meal in doe-rabbits diet up to 5.0% of the diet without negative effect on performance during gestation and lactation periods with saving cost of feeding with 5.0% GKM.

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