Effect of dietary protein levels on rabbits performance.
Abstract: Three dietary protein levels; 14, and 18 % were fed growing and doe New zealand wight ( NZW ) rabbits in two experiments. The first experiment was conducted on three groups of growing rabbits ( 18 rabbits in each), of nearly similar age ( 5 weeks) and initial weights. The second experiment was conducted on 24 non-pregnant NZW does ( at their first production season). The rabbits were assigned into three equal groups and were fed the three previous dietary protein levels for 30 days pre-mating for three consecutive parities. The results of experiment 1 showed that live weight gain, feed conversion, crude protein utilization, performance index and blood urea increased by increasing dietary protein levels but with no significant differences between groups fed 16 or 18% crude protein ( CP) in most growth performance traits. In experiment 2, the results indicated that the number of alive litters at birth and at weaning increased insignificantly when protein level was increased in doe diets. Bunny weights at birth and at weaning were improved ( P< 0.01) with increasing dietary protein level. Bunny weight gain showed the same trend. Moreover, milk intake / bunny was improved significantly, (P < 0.05) when protein level increased in doe diets. Consequently, milk efficiency was improved ( P< 0.01) but without significant differences between groups fed 16 or 18% CP in most doe traits and their youngs.
Keywords: protein level, growth performance, doe traits.
Publication year 2000
Pages 195-206
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى- الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
Country Egypt
serial title Egyptian Journal of Rabbit Science
Volume 10 . 2
Department Poultry Nutrition Research Department
Author(s) from ARC
Agris Categories Animal feeding
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Performance testing. Proteins. Rabbits.
Publication Type Journal
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