NUTRITIONAL EVALUATION OF DRIED TOMATO (LYCOPRISON ESCULINTUM) HAULMS INSTEAD OF ALFALFA HAY IN FEEDING GROWING RABBITS UNDER NORTH SINAI CONDITIONS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Sciences, Arish University, North Sinai, Egypt

2 Animal Production research institute, Agriculture research center. Dokki, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the utilization of dried tomato (Lycoprison esculintum) haulms as instead of alfalfa hay in feeding growing rabbits. Thirty weaned New Zealand white rabbits of both sexes aged 7 wk and weighted 970.80 were randomly divided into three groups (10 each). The first group (C) was fed the basal diet as control (0% DTH), while the other two treatment groups (L and H). Were fed diets containing 10 and 20% DTH, respectively replacing alfalfa hay in the basal diet. All the experimental diets contained nearly the same level of crude protein (CP) and digestible energy (DE). All the experimental diets formulated to cover the nutrients requirements of rabbits. The diets and fresh water were supplied ad-libitum during the experimental period (8 wk). At the end of experimental period, digestibility trials were carried out to determine the digestibility of feed nutrients and the feeding values of experimental diets. Three rabbits from each group were slaughtered to evaluate carcass traits and some blood parameters. Results indicated that the experimental diets with different levels of DTH (L and H) showed no significant differences (P> 0.05) among the dietary treatments in respect of live body weight, total weight gain and daily weight gain at different ages. Total feed intake and daily feed intake of DTH-diets were significant decreased compared to that of control diet during the first four weeks, while, were slightly decreased during the whale experimental period. Feed conversion did not affected significantly. All nutrients digestibility coefficients (DM, OM, CP, CF, EE and NFE) and Nutritive values as TDN did not effect by dietary treatment did not affected, while DCP was lower with H-diet than that of other diets (control diet and L-diet). Empty carcass as weight or percentage and total edible parts as weight were decreased significantly with H-diet comported with that of control diet, while the other traits of carcass were not affected by dietary treatments. There were no significant differences among dietary treatments in most blood constituents (Albumin, Glucose, Cholesterol, Urea-N, Creatinine, ALT and AST). Total protein (TP) and Globulin of rabbits fed on H-diet were lower (P< 0.05) than those fed C-diet. Economic efficiency (E.E) and Relative of DTH-diets were higher than C-diet.

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