Using fats and/or electrolytes in growing rabbit rations in hot climate
Abstract: A growth experiment was carried out using rations containing no fats, 3% sunflower oil (SFO) or 3% beef tallow (BT) without or with different electrolytes (1.0% MgO, 0.5% NAHCO3 or 0.3% commercial electrolyte mixture, CEM) in a factorial (3 X 4) arrangement. The dietary treatments were fed to 96 weaned New Zealand X California rabbits for 8 weeks. Growth performance, nutrient digestion coefficients of the experimental rations, carcass characteristics, some blood constituents and the rectal temperature were measured. An economical study was also carried out.
Although, no significant difference in body weight gain was detected, rabbits fed 3% BT achieved the highest gain among animals fed the different dietary treatments. Using BT showed significant (P<0.05) effect on feed consumption compared to the control ration or those contained 3% SFO. Neither fats nor electrolytes did significantly affect feed/gain.
Significant (P<0.05) increase in EE digestibility was observed for rations containing 3% SFO or BT compared to the control. Using electrolytes significantly (P<0.05) affected the digestibility values of DM, OM and CF. Weight of kidneys significantly (P<0.05) increased with fats or CEM rations. Rations containing BT showed significant (P<0.05) increase in fur weight. The abdominal fat weight significantly (P<0.05) decreased with using 0.5% NaHC03 or 0.3% CEM. Using 3% SFO resulted in significant (P<0.01) decrease in plasma total lipids (PTL) compared to the control ration. Also electrolyte supplementation caused significant (P<0.05) decrease in PTL concentration. Plasma cholesterol concentration was not affected by either fats or electrolytes. Insignificant differences in rectal temperature were detected among rabbits fed the different experimental rations. However, added electrolytes to the basal ration of no fats decreased the rectal temperature.
The economical study showed that using fats, especially SFO, and /or electrolytes, especially CEM, increased feed cost of producing rabbit meat.
Keywords: Rabbits, growth, sunflower oil, beef tallow, electrolytes, carcass characteristics.
Publication year 2000
Pages 2517-2531
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى - الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
City المنصورة
serial title Journal Agricultural Science Mansoura University
ISSN 1110-0346
Author(s) from ARC
External authors (outside ARC)
    عبدالله غزالة جامعة القاهرة
    محمد رضا ابراهيم جامعة القاهرة
    سوسن محمد جاد المركز القومى للبحوث
Agris Categories Animal feeding
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Carcass composition. Electrolytes. Fats. Growth. Rabbits. Sunflower oil. Warm season.
Proposed Agrovoc beef tallow;
Publication Type Journal
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