TESTING TWO LEVELS OF LACTIC AND CITRIC ACIDS AS GROWTH PROMOTERS IN RABBITS DIETS

Abdel-Kader, I. A.; Emam, A.

doi:10.21608/ejnf.2020.148129

TESTING TWO LEVELS OF LACTIC AND CITRIC ACIDS AS GROWTH PROMOTERS IN RABBITS DIETS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

I. A. Abdel-Kader ¹
A. Emam ²

¹ Poultry Production Department, Fac. Agric., Fayoum Univ., Fayoum, 63514, Egypt.

² Poultry Production Department, Fac. Agric., Fayoum Univ., Fayoum, 63514, Egypt

10.21608/ejnf.2020.148129

Abstract

A total of 150 weaned V- Line rabbits aged five weeks were used in this study. Rabbits were randomly distributed into five equal groups of three replications 10 rabbits each at similar average of initial weight (594.68±18.22g). All rabbits housed in galvanized wire cages within well-ventilated pen under similar hygienic and husbandry conditions. The 1^stgroup consumed the basal diet in the absence of organic acids (control, T1). The 2^nd and 3^rdgroups consumed control diet supplemented with 0.5 and 0.25% lactic acid, respectively, the 4^th and 5^th groups consumed control diet supplemented with 0.5 and 0.25% citric acid, respectively. Feeding rabbits on a diet containing lactic acid at either 0.25 or 0.5% led to a significant improvement in all final growth traits, superior those received diet supplemented with citric acid and control group. Regarding carcass traits, the feeding on diets containing organic acids did not show any significant differences for the carcass characteristics. Regarding blood parameters there were no significant effects of the dietary treatments on the different blood and hematology measures, except for total lymphocytes and blood urea, which increased significantly in favor of rabbits fed lactic acid 0.5%. Economically, rabbits fed on supplemented diets with lactic acid at two levels0.5% and 0.25% had higher economic efficiency and relative economic efficiency compared to control and groups fed on citric acid at two levels

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