Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of natural resources, Research Institute of African Studies. Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
2
Animal Nutrition Research Department, Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center,. El-Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
3
Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
4
Regional Center for Food and Feed, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt.
5
Environmental studies and Research Institute, Sustainble Department University of Sadat City, Monofeya, Egypt
Abstract
A total number of 72 New Zealand White (NZW) growing rabbits of mixed sex, 6 weeks old of about 500±13.75 g average body weight were used to study the effect of different levels of Moringa stems without or with supplementation of caplix enzyme on rabbit performance, nutrients digestibility coefficient, caecum activity, carcass characteristics and economic efficiency. Rabbits were divided into 6 treatments; each containing 12 rabbits in 4 replicates (3 rabbits in each). Three substitution levels of Moringa stems, as well as, two levels without or with caplix were used in 3×2 factorial arrangement. Moringa stems levels were zero (control), 25 and 50% instead of clover straw of the control diet, while the levels of caplix were 0 or 0.05% of diet. The experimental period was extended to 8 weeks.
These results obtained indicated that, replacing Moringa stems for clover straw at 25 and 50% in rabbit diets significantly (P<0.05) improved CP, EE, CF, NDF, ADF and ADL digestibility as will as DCP and TDN values compared to the control group. Also, adding caplix to rabbit diets improved (P<0.05) these nutrients digestibility as compared to the groups fed diets without caplix. Replacing Moringa stems by clover straw at 25 and 50% or adding caplix to rabbit diets resulted in an improvement (P< 0.05) of caecum pH and an increase (P<0.05) in caecal VFA̕S concentration. There were significant (P<0.05) increases in average daily BWG and significant (P<0.05) improvement in FCR with either replacing Moringa stems at a level of 25% or adding caplix to rabbit diets. Replacing Moringa stems by clover straw at 25 and 50% or adding caplix to rabbit diets increased (P<0.05) dressing %, edible giblets% and total edible parts% in comparison to the control group. While there were insignificant differences in contents of moisture, CP and EE% among the different tested experimental groups. Replacing Moringa stems by clover straw at all tested levels in rabbit diets either without or with caplix increased the economic efficiency as compared to the control group.
Conclusively, these results showed that Moringa stems can be used instead of clover straw (up to 50%) in growing rabbit diets with caplix (0.05%) without negative effects on growth performance under Egyptian environmental conditions.
Keywords
)
View on SCiNiTO