INFLUENCE OF BRANCHED-CHAIN AMINO ACID SUPPLEMENTATION ON GROWING MOUNTAIN RABBIT'S PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE

The objective of this study was to measure the productive performance of growing rabbits as influenced by the two different level of dietary protein under three levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) supplementations. A 90-day feeding trial was conducted. A total rabbits were 72 at the age of 8 weeks were weighed when rabbits arrival at the farm and randomly distributed to six experimental groups. (G1): rabbits fed control diet contain recommended protein level (18% CP) without any supplementation. (G2 and G3): rabbits fed control diet contain recommended protein (18% CP) supplemented with 2 g BCAAs/kg diet 2:1:1 and with 2 g BCAA/kg diet 3:1:2 (luecine: Iso luecine: Valine). (G4): rabbits fed control diet contain low protein level (17% CP) without any supplementation. (G5 and G6): rabbits fed control diet contain low protein (17% CP) supplemented with 2 g BCAAs/kg diet 2:1:1 and 2 g BCAAs/kg diet 3:1:2 (luecine: Iso luecine: Valine). Group rabbits fed (G3) achieved the highest significantly (P<0.05) DM, OM, CP, EE and NFE digestion coefficients.  Also, nutritive values in term of DCP and TDN, followed them group fed (G2) and followed by (G6), (G1) then group fed (G5). Rabbits group fed (G3) achieved significantly the highest final LBW, total gain, and daily gain, followed them in the values the group fed recommended dietary protein (G2) and (G6), which did not show any significant differences between them in the final body weight of rabbits, Group fed (G3) recorded the best feed conversion ratio compared to the other groups. rabbits fed recommended protein (G3) achieved The highest significantly (P<0.05) carcass weight values, followed them in the values of the group fed recommended protein (G2) and (G6),  rabbits fed (G6) achieved the highest significantly (P<0.05) Arginine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Leucine, threonine, , phenylalanine,  Valine and tryptophan values, followed them in the values of the group fed (G2) and (G6),   Rabbits fed (G1) and (G4) achieved the highest significantly (P<0.05) TVN and TBA values,  rabbits fed (G3) achieved The highest significantly (P<0.05) antioxidant activity presented in GPx, SOD and CAT (U/mg protein) values, followed them in the values the group fed (G2) and low protein (G6), While the lowest values were significantly recorded for the 18% and 17% groups at 0g BCAA level for oxidative activity. Rabbits fed (G3) achieved the highest significantly (P<0.05) T.P globulin, albumin, creatinine, urea, AST and ALT, Also, immunity values in term of IgG and IgM. And the highest relative economic efficiency recorded by (G6 and G3). Overall, Group 3 recorded the best results obtained, while Group 3 and 6 recorded the best results in economic efficiency calculations.