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Effect of dietary ascorbic acid and betaine supplementation on productivity of rabbit does under high ambient temperature
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Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary ascorbic acid and betaine supplementation on productivity and milk production of APRI line rabbit does under high ambient temperature. A total of 24 APRI line rabbit does, 8-9 months old, were divided into four experimental treatments (6 each). Rabbit does were fed ad libitum the basal diet supplemented without (control), with 250 mg ascorbic acid/kg diet or betaine at 0.5 and 1 g/kg diet. Animals were provided with water freely. The average daily temperature and relative humidity inside the rabbitry were 32.5±4.5 °C and 75.5±3.5%, respectively. In another trial, twenty lactating rabbit does (five per diet) were used to measure milk production. Under heat stress conditions, pregnant rabbit does given diet containing 1 g betaine /kg diet showed the highest (P<0.01) weight gain than those fed other experimental diets during the pregnancy period. During the lactation period, the rabbit does irrespective of the experimental diets lost weight ranging from 93 to 113 g, which was about 3.60% of their initial live body weight with low losses for rabbit does fed diet containing 1 g betaine/kg diet. The rabbit does fed diets containing ascorbic acid or betaine weaned more rabbits than those fed control diet (5.73 vs. 3.71; P<0.001, as average). Rabbit does fed 1 g betaine/kg diet recorded the highest values of litters weights, during the first three weeks. The pre-weaning mortality rate was higher in the control diet compared to diets with 250 mg ascorbic acid/kg diet or 0.5 and 1 g betaine/kg diet (36.16% vs. 20.21, 20.39 and 13.81%; P<0.001, respectively). Fertility rate was increased by supplementing 1 g betaine /kg diet. On the other hand, daily feed intake of pregnant and lactating rabbit does increased (P<0.01) with supplementing 1 g betaine /kg diet. Supplementing dietary ascorbic acid and betaine increased (P<0.001) feed intake of pups in the last 9 days of the lactation period, where pups fed diet containing 1 g betaine /kg diet recorded the highest value. Rabbit does given diets with ascorbic acid or betaine showed a better (P<0.01) milk index. Moreover, feed conversion ratio was significantly improved (P<0.001) by supplementing ascorbic acid or betaine in diets during the first three weeks of the lactation period, where rabbit does fed 1 g betaine/kg diet recorded the best value. Also, the feed conversion ratio was better (P<0.001) for diets supplemented with ascorbic acid or betaine during the last 9 days of lactating period. Betaine at a level of 1g/kg caused an increase (P<0.05) in milk production whereas milk yield increased (P<0.05) by 26.2 and 42.8% in rabbit does fed 0.5 and 1 g betaine /kg diet, respectively. The same trend was observed for milk production in relation to week of lactation, which was increased only with 1g/kg betaine level throughout the lactation period. In this study, 1g betaine supplementation in rabbit does diet significantly improves productivity and milk production under high ambient temperature during summer in Egypt. If the results are confirmed on a larger scale, it could be therefore concluded that 1g betaine supplementation in the diet, could be advisable in hot climates.
Keywords: Rabbit, Ascorbic acid, Betaine, Heat stress, Reproductive performance.
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| Publication year |
2012
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| Pages |
279-283
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| Availability location |
معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى- الجيزة
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| Availability number |
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| Organization Name |
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| City |
شرم الشيخ
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| serial title |
10 th World Rabbit Congress
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| Author(s) from ARC |
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| Agris Categories |
Animal physiology - NutritionAnimal physiology - Reproduction
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AGROVOC
TERMS |
Ascorbic acid.
Betaine.
Heat stress.
Milk production.
Rabbits.
Reproductive performance.
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| Publication Type |
Conference/Workshop
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