Nutritional and biological evaluation of portulaca oleracea (purslane) as untraditional protein source in feeding growing rabbits
Abstract: Eighty males and females weanling New Zealand White rabbits at five week old were used to evaluate the effect of substitution of dried whole Portulaca oleracea (Purslane) at the levels 0, 10, 20 and 30% on the expense of soybean meal as source of protein in rabbits diet on growth performance, digestibility of nutrients, carcass traits, some blood constituents, liver and kidney functions and immunity. The results indicated that final body weight, daily weight gain and growth rate were significantly higher by 12.57, 19.34 and 5.14 %, respectively. Daily feed intake was significantly increased from 102.75 to 117.30 g/ day when Portulaca oleracea (P.O.) induced in the diets at the level of 20 %. The best feed conversion was recorded by rabbits fed diet substituted with 20% P.O. Growing rabbits could be fed 20 % P.O, on the expense of soybean meal without any adverse effects and realize the best values of growth performance, digestibility coefficients, carcass traits, globulin level and immune response. Economical efficiency and the relative economical efficiency were also improved with such level of P.O.
Key words: rabbits, Portulaca oleracea, growth performance.
Publication year 2010
Pages 149-163
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى - الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
City القاهرة
serial title Egyptian Journal Nutrition and Feeds
ISSN 1110-6360
Author(s) from ARC
Agris Categories Animal feeding
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Blood composition. Carcass composition. Digestibility. Economic analysis. Immunity. Kidneys. Liver. Performance testing. Portulaca oleracea. Proteins. Rabbits. Soybean meal.
Publication Type Journal
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