EFFECT OF FEEDING DIFFERENT LEVELS OF YELLOW CORN WITH OR WITHOUT MULTI-ENZYMES OR PREBIOTIC SUPPLEMENTATION ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMICAL EFFICIENCY IN GROWING RABBIT RATIONS

One hundred and eight, 6 weeks of age weaning New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits were used in this study to investigate the impact of feeding three levels of yellow corn diets without or with enzymes or prebiotics or both. Rabbits were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design in a 3×4 factorial arrangements, with the variables being supplementation or not with enzymes (500 g / ton feed) or prebiotics (500 g / ton feed) or both (500 g enzymes +500 g prebiotics) / ton feed. The experimental groups of rabbits were fed their respective experimental rations in pelleted form. Three basal rations were used in this study; the first containing 5% corn (R1), the second one contained 10% corn (R5) and the third one contained 15% corn (R9). The composition and calculated analysis of the basal diets were done according to NRC (1977). The basal ration (R1) was supplemented with enzymes or prebiotics or both for R2, R3 and R4, respectively. While the basal ration (R5) was supplemented with enzymes or prebiotics or both for R6, R7 and R8, respectively, and the basal ration (R9) was supplemented with enzymes or prebiotics or both for R10, R11 and R12, respectively. Apart from the effect of feed rations which were contained 5% or 15% corn, were significantly (P<0.05) higher live body weight (LBW) of rabbits 7 weeks of age than feeding on ration was contained 10% corn, but without significant effect on LBW at different ages of the experimental period, from 8 to 15 weeks of age. Regardless of the effect of dietary corn level, addition of enzymes or prebiotics or both had no significant effect (P>0.05) on live body weight of rabbits at different ages of the experimental period, from 6 to 15 weeks of age. Apart from the effect of corn levels and dietary supplements had no significant effect (P< 0.05) on daily feed intake (DFI) of rabbits during the period from 6 to 15 weeks. The daily feed intake (DFI) of rabbits fed rations contained 5%, 10% and 15% corn were 89.88, 89.03 and 89.62 g / d, respectively. The interaction between dietary corn levels and added supplements on feed conversion ratio (FCR) duringthe whole experimental period (from 6-15 weeks) showed that, the FCR of the growing rabbits were better(P<0.05) with rations R8, R9 and R11 (3.93, 4.07 and 4.04 g/d, respectively). The effect of dietary interaction, showed that addition of enzymes with diet containing 5% corn or diet containing 10% corn without supplements lead to a significant (p<0.05) increased in weight  of viscera. The economic efficiency (%) showed that feeding growing rabbits on ration contained 10% corn and supplemented with enzymes plus prebiotics (R8) or feeding diet contained 15% corn without supplements (R9), improved of feed efficiency (102.8 and 102.4 %, respectively).