EFFECT OF DIETS CONTAINING DIFFERENT TYPES OF SILAGE ON PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCES OF DOE RABBITS AND GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF THEIR BUNNIES. | ||||
Journal of Animal and Poultry Production | ||||
Article 6, Volume 29, Issue 10, October 2004, Page 5617-5628 PDF (3.5 MB) | ||||
Document Type: Original Article | ||||
DOI: 10.21608/jappmu.2004.239425 | ||||
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Authors | ||||
M. E. Omara,; A. M. A. Mohi-EI-Din; M. A. M. Abu EI-Hamd | ||||
Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Ministry of Agrcilture, Giza, Egypt | ||||
Abstract | ||||
This study aimed at investigating effects of feeding doe rabbits on diets containing different types of silage on their productive and reproductive performances and growth performance of their bunnies. A total of 25 NZW doe rabbits (6 months old) were allotted into 5 similar groups fed on 100% concentrate feed mixture (CFM) and was served as control group (G1) as compared to those fed different types of silage (30%) including carrot roots (G2), carrot tops (G3), berseem (G4) and corn (G5) silages. All groups were fed on the tested rations from 6 weeks of age up to the first litter size. Only inclusion of carrot tops silage inSignificantly reduced number of service per conception and conception rate as compared to the control died and other silage groups. However, LBW of does of parturition, gestation period, litter size (LS) and litter weight (LW) at birth were not affected significantly by diets containing silage. Only LS and LW at weaning were affected significantly (P<0.05) higher in all silage groups than the control group, except berseem silage diet, which did not differ significantly than the control and other silage groups. Average LBW of does at different suckling weeks did not differ significantly among dietary groups, but only does fed carrot roots silage diet did not show reduction in their weight through the suckling weeks. Average daily milk yield was not affected by dietary treatments, ranging between 133.8 and 154.7 g/day all silage groups versus 126.9 g/day in the control group. Inclusion of silages in diets of does resulted in significant (P<O.05) changes in fat, lactose, total solids and solids not fat in milk of does. Only, bunnies of does fed corn silage diets showed significantly (P<O.05) the highest LBW and average silage during suckling weeks. Generally, feeding doe rabbits on berseem and corn silage diets resulted in some improvement concerning milk yield and composition and in turn good growth performance and viability of their bunnies. | ||||
Keywords | ||||
Rabbit; silage; reproductive; productive; growth performance | ||||
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