Effect of dietary protein levels with or without zinc supplementation on: 1- productive performance, carcass traits and economical efficiency of male rabbits
Abstract: The effects of a reduction of dietary protein and type of zinc supplementation (organic and inorganic form) on productive performance, digestion coefficients, carcass traits and economical efficiency were evaluated on 102 New Zealand White (NZW) male rabbits (5 weeks old) with average body weights of 669.0 ±4.4 g. Rabbits were used for 8 weeks (fattening duration), divided into two homogeneous main groups (each included 51 animals). The 1st group was fed on a formulated diet containing 16.34 % crude protein (CP) and the 2nd was fed on diet containing 14.46 % CP (low protein). Each main group was divided into three equal sub groups. The 1st sub group was fed on the basal diet without zinc (Zn) supplementation, the 2nd and the 3rd sub groups were fed on the same basal diet supplemented with 100 mg Zn/kg diet as zinc sulfate (ZnSo4 inorganic form) and zinc methionine (Zn-Met, organic form), respectively, to obtain final 6 experimental groups.
Results showed that reduction of the protein content in the diet significantly (P<0.01 or 0.05) affected LBW, DWG, Fl, FC, PI and live rabbits percentage during the 1st period of growth (5-9 weeks of age), however, in the 2nd period (9-13 weeks of age) significantly (P<0.05) affected LBW, DWG and Fe. Rabbits fed diet containing 14.46% CP showed lower LBW by 5.77 and 6.99%, DWG by 10.75 and 9.16% and FC by 15.71 and 8.55% in the 1st and 2nd periods for growth, respectively. Rabbits received the diet with 16.34% CP consumed less feed than the animals those fed 14.46% dietary protein during the 1st period of growing. Reduced protein level in the diet impaired significantly (P<0.01) P1 by 20.60 and 14.59 % during the 1st and 2nd periods compared with those fed diet containing 16.34% CP. Reduction of the protein concentration significantly (P<0.01 or 0.05) decreased digestion coefficients, slaughter weight, dressing percentage and economical efficiency.
Supplementation diet with zinc improved significantly (P<0.01 or 0.05) productive performance during 1st and 2nd growth periods, digestion coefficients, slaughter weight, dressing percentage and economical efficiency. In addition, zinc supplementations increased significantly (P<0.05) live rabbits percentage during 1st period Rabbit fed diet supplemented with Zn-Met had significantly (P<0.05) higher PI and insignificantly LBW, DWG, slaughter weight and dressing percentage compared with those fed diet supplemented with ZnSO4 at different growth periods. Also, result revealed that Zn-Met supplementation enhanced significantly FC and economical efficiency, and insignificantly live rabbits percentage compared with ZnSO4 Generally, addition Zn to diet containing low CP content (14.46%) reduce significantly the negative effects resulted with reduction in protein content in the rabbit diets.
Keywords: protein content, supplemental zinc source, performance economical efficiency
Publication year 2005
Pages 113-129
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى- الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
serial title Egyptian Journal of Rabbit Science
Author(s) from ARC
External authors (outside ARC)
    صباح محمود علام جامعة القاهرة
    محمد احمد فؤاد المنيلاوى جامعة القاهرة
Agris Categories Animal physiology - Nutrition
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Carcass composition. Economic analysis. Males. Performance testing. Production. Proteins. Rabbits. Zinc.
Proposed Agrovoc Rabbits Physiology;Rabbits Fertility;
Publication Type Journal
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