Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Egypt.
2
Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
3
Department of Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Egypt.
Abstract
Eighty one, 7 weeks of age weaning New Zealand White (NZW)
rabbits were used in this study. Rabbits were randomly distributed into 9
equal groups and housed in separate cages. The 1st experimental ration
(R1) was used as a control, which contained of : 10% yellowcorn + 10%
barley + 13.7 % soybean meal (SBM) + 20 % wheat bran + 40 % clover
hay+ 3%molasses + 1%calciumdiphosphate+ 1.2%limestone+ 0.5%
sodium chloride + 0.4 % minerals-vitamins mixture + 0.2 % methionine .
Equal parts frombarley and soybean meal in R1 were substituted by 10%
or 20% distiller dried grains with soluble (DDGS) in ration 2 (R2) and
ration 3 (R3), respectively. The supplemented seaweed (SW) for these
rations was at towlevels subtracted fromthe wheat bran. The first level was
0.5 % SWof the total mixed ration for ration 4 (R4), ration 5 (R5) and
ration 6 (R6). The second level was 1.0 % SWof the total mixed ration for
ration 7 (R7), ration 8 (R8) and ration 9 (R9).
The experimental rations had no significant effect on LBW of
growing rabbits from 7 to 13 weeks of age. Rabbits fed on R1 and R3
showed the highest LBWfrom 7 to 13 weeks of age compared with those
fed the other rations. Also, rabbits fed on R6, R8 and R9 had higher LBW
than those fed on R4, R5 and R7. Averages daily gain for rabbits fed 0%
SWwas higher (P < 0.05) than that for rabbits fed 0.5% SW. The average
changes in LBWof growing rabbits from7 – 13 weeks of age were highest
with feeding on R1 and R3 compared with that of feeding on other rations.
The averages of LBWchanges were nearly similar for rabbits fed on R2,
R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 and the lowest value was observed with feeding
rabbits on R4 . The dressing percentages were 63.42, 62.13 and 64.01 %
and the slaughter weights were 1902.22, 1990.56 and 1948.33 g with
supplemented 0.0%, 0.5%and 1.0%SWrespectively, while the slaughter
weights were 1905.56, 19995.0 and 1940.56 g with feeding on 0.0%, 10%
and 20 % DDGS rations, respectively. The hot carcass as were the highest
(1118.33 g) with supplemented 1.0 % SW rations and (1127.22 g) with
feeding on 10 % DDGS rations. Experimental rations had no significant
effect on averages ofDMI of growing rabbits from7 to 13 weeks of age. No
significant effect was detected due to feeding experimental rations on feed
conversion values of growing rabbits from7 – 13 weeks of age.
The economic efficiency (%) results showed that feeding growing
rabbits on R3 recorded the highest value (313.3 %), while feeding on R4,
R5, R7 and R8 showed the lowest values being 259.2, 251.5, 244.3 and
255.2 %, respectively.
Keywords
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