Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department Of Poultry Nutrition Research, Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt
2
Department Of Sheep And Goat Research, Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt
3
Department Of A.I Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt.
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the effects of replacing Berseem hay by different levels of Salix Safsaf hay in rabbit diet on growth performance, carcass, blood biochemical traits and antioxidant status. Weaned male New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits about 6 weeks old (n = 120, mean body weight 701.15 g) were randomly allotted to four dietary groups. The control group was fed a basal diet including 300 Kg/Ton of Berseem hay(T1); the experimental groups received the basal diet replacement with 75, 150 and 225 Kg/Ton Salix Safsaf hay of (300 Kg/Ton) Berseem hay diets (T2, T3 and T4), respectively).The experimental period lasted for 8 weeks. Results showed that T4 had the best final body weight, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Dietary including Salix Safsaf hay improved digestible coefficient of Dry matter (DM), Organic matter (OM), Crude protein (CP), Ether extract (EE) and nutritive values of Total digestible nutrient (TDN) and Digestible crude protein (DCP); Replacement of Salix Safsaf hay had no significant (P<0.9858) effected on digestible coefficient of crude fiber as compared with control treatment. Treatment including 225 Salix Safsaf hay significantly increased N-intake (IN, g/day), digestible N (DN, g/d), retained N (RN, g/d), the efficiency of intake N converted into digestible N, the efficiency of intake N converted into retained N and the efficiency of digestible N converted into digestible N and caecum activity as Total volatile fatty acid (VFA). While significantly decreased urinary-N (UN, g/day) and caecum activity as NH3-N (mg\100 dL) as compared with control treatment. Treatments including 75 Salix Safsaf hay increased carcass weight (g) and total edible parts % as well as blood plasma albumine and glucose contents were increased (p ≤ 0.0011 and 0.05). Dietary contained Salix Safsaf hay decreased blood plasma total lipids, (mg/l), triglycerides, (mg/dl), total cholesterol, (mg/dl), low-density lipoprotein, (mg/dl) very low-density lipoprotein, (mg/dl), aspartate aminotransferase,(IU) alanine aminotransferase , (IU), alkaline phosphatase, (μl) (p ≤ 0.0171, 0.0190, 0.0001, 0.0015, 0.0036, 0.0511, 0.0542 and 0.0532) respectively. Replacing 150 or 75 Berseem hay by 15 or 225 Salix Safsaf hay increased the blood plasma concentrations of creatinine and high-density lipoproteins. Total antioxidant capacity in blood increased (p ≤ 0.0001) for T4 treatment. However, malondialdehyde was reduced (p ≤ 0.001) when Salix Safsaf hay partial replaced Berseem hay in rabbit diet. Replacing Berseem hay in rabbit diets by Salix Safsaf hay reduced the feeding cost of experimental rabbits.
Keywords
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