THE EFFECTS OF DIETARY INCLUSION OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF FLAXSEED ON THE DIGESTIBILITY, GROWTH PERFORMANCE, BLOOD PARAMETERS AND FATTY ACID PROFILE IN GROWING NEW-ZEALAND WHITE (NZW) RABBITS

Ibrahim, Sh. A. M.; El-Nomeary, Y. A.A.; Salman, Fatma M.; Bakry, B. A.

doi:10.21608/ejnf.2021.170315

THE EFFECTS OF DIETARY INCLUSION OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF FLAXSEED ON THE DIGESTIBILITY, GROWTH PERFORMANCE, BLOOD PARAMETERS AND FATTY ACID PROFILE IN GROWING NEW-ZEALAND WHITE (NZW) RABBITS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Animal Production Department, National Research Centre, 33 El-Bohouth Street, P.O.:12622, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

² Field Crops Research Department, National Research Centre, 33 El-Bohouth Street, P.O.: 12622, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

10.21608/ejnf.2021.170315

Abstract

A total number of 60 male New-Zealand White (NZW) rabbits post-weaning was used to study the effect of the inclusion of three levels (4, 6 and 8%) of flaxseed (FS) in the rabbit diet on nutrients digestibility, growth performance, blood parameters and fatty acid profile. Rabbits were distributed among 4 equal groups (3 replicates, 5 rabbits each). The1^stgroup received the basal diet without FS. The other three groups (2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th) received the basal diet with FS at levels 4, 6 and 8%, respectively. Rabbits were fed experimental diets for 8 weeks. Feeding diet contains FS at 6% level significantly (P<0.05) decreased the digestion coefficients as DM and OM compared to the control group while, feeding FS at the 8% level significantly decreased the digestion coefficients of DM, OM, CF and NFE compared to the control group. Feeding FS at the 6 or 8% level in rabbits significantly decreased the daily feed intake compared to the control group. Feeding flaxseed at the three levels 4, 6 and 8% in rabbits significantly (P<0.05) decreased the long dorsal fat and pre-renal fat weight compared to the control group. Feeding the experimental diets contain flaxseed at different levels (4, 6 and 8 %) significantly (P<0.05) decreased triglycerides, total cholesterol and total alkaline phosphatase compared to those of the control group. Feeding diets contain flaxseed at the level 6 and 8% in rabbit rations significantly (P<0.05) increased the α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and palmitic acid levels as well as reduced the arachidonic acid. Comparing these results to the literature, it was found that inclusion of dietary flaxseed at 6 and 8% of total ration considered high levels which significantly improved the blood parameters and profile fatty acids meanwhile a slightly decreased the growth performances and digestibility. Our suggestion under these circumstances is to use the lower level of 4% in rabbit feeding, flaxseeds are used to increase the diet content in omega-3 fatty acids, mostly alpha-linolenic acid.

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