GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF GROWING RABBITS AS AFFECTED BY DIETS CONTAINING DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GUAVA BY- PRODUCT      ( Psidium guajava)

 

M. M. Nassr- Allah

 Animal Production Research Institute, Agric. Res. Center, Ministry Agric., Dokki, Egypt.

 

 

ABSTRACT

 A total thirty six New Zealand White (NZW) male rabbits, 5 weeks of age were used in this study to investigate the effect of a partial replacement of berseem hay and barley in commercial basal diet with Guava by-product           ( Psidium guajava),  as untradional feedstuff, at three levels (5, 10 and 15%) on growth performance, digestibility coefficients of nutrients, some carcass traits and economic efficiency.

The rabbits were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups (9 rabbits each). The 1^st group was fed a pelleted basal diet, while the 2^nd , 3^rd and 4^th groups were fed a diets containing 5, 10 and 15% Guava by-product, respectively. The experimental period was extended for 6 weeks.

Obtained results indicated that growth performance parameters had no adverse effect when experimental  diets included up to 10% Guava by-product, while the  main significant improvement in final body  weight , total body weight gain, average  daily gain and performance index were achieved for rabbit fed diets containing  at level 5% Guava by-product.

On the other hand, daily feed intake, feed conversion, protein efficiency ratio (PER), carcass traits or caecum parameters had not significantly affected. However, the rabbits which fed diets containing 15% Guava by-product were recorded depression in these criteria.

Digestibility coefficients of DM, CF, EE, NFE and the nutritive values of the experimental diets were not affected by inclusion of Guava by-product in the diets, while the digestibility coefficients of OM or CP had significant depression when the diets included 10 or 15% Guava by-product.

In point the economical values, the highest economical efficiency (%) was recorded for rabbit group fed a diet contained 5% Guava by-product.

Key words:Rabbits, Guava by-product, performance, digestibility, carcass traits, economic efficiency.

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

            Rabbits are herbivorous animals consuming high roughage diets based on grass, lucerne, alfalfa and many other forage crops (El-Hindawy et al., 2003). Since, the principle factor affecting the annual profit margin is the cost of feeding, it is necessary to seek for non- traditional and cheaper feedstuffs to decrease the feeding cost.

            Additional, shortage of feedstuffs is one of the major limiting factor for increasing animal and poultry production.

            Incorporation of cheap untraditional feedstuffs such as the agro–industrial by-products in the animal diets substantially participates in solving the problem and decreases the cost of feed, which in turn decreases the marketing price of rabbit production,(Shqueir and Qwasmi, 1994).

            As a herbivorous and semi- ruminant animals the nutrient requirements for rabbits are still questionable and under investigation (Cheeke, 1987). There was no available literature on using Guava by-product in rabbit feeding Abd-Alla (1993) recorded a good intake for broiler fed Guava by-product (during the finisher period), without any harmful effect on health of performance parameters.

            In Egypt, 243434 ton/ year of Guava fruit are produced (Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture, 2005). Guava by-product (GBP) is the residue of juice extraction of the fruit and estimated to be 30% of the original quantity.

            Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the possibility of incorporating different levels of Guava by-product in growing rabbit diets, and their effects on growth performance, nutrients digestibility and nutritive values, carcass traits and economic efficiency under Egyptian conditions.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS

 

            The present study was conducted at a Private Rabbitry farm (Daltex Company, El-Mollack Valley) Sharkeia Governorate, during September and October 2005. The experiment work was extended for 6 weeks.

           A total number of 36 male New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits of 5 weeks old with an average body weight nearly similar (639.98 ± 15.73) were divided into four experimental groups. Guava by-product was collected from Kaha Company and dried at 70°C for 24 hours, then ground well mixed (the price of one ton 200 LE).

            The first group was fed a pelleted basal diet (without Guava by-product) while second,  third and fourth groups were fed an pelleted diets contained 5 , 10 and 15 %  Guava by-product, respectively, in replacement berseem hay and Barley (from 5 up to 11 weeks of age) .

            Feed ingredients and chemical composition of the experimental diets are presented in Table (1). Guava by-product, berseem hay and barley were analyzed according to A.O.A.C. (1990). 

            The rabbits were housed (each of 3 together) in wire cages (60 x 55x 40 cm) provided with galvanized feeders and nipple drinkers. Feed and fresh water were daily offered to rabbits ad libitum. Individual live body weight, daily body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion rate were weekly recorded. All the rabbits were kept under the same managerial, hygienic and environmental conditions.

            The following parameters such as weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion   (g feed / g gain)  and  protein  efficiency  ratio  (PER)  were  calculated  during  the

Table 1 : Ingredients and chemical analysis of the experimental diets

*Each kilogram contains: Vit. A 2000000 IU, Vit., D3 150000 IU, Vit. E 8.33 g. Vit. K.0.33 g, Vit. B1 0.33 g, Vit. B2 1.0 g, Vit. B6 0.33g, Vit. B12 1.7 mg, Pantothenic acid 3.33g, Niacin 8.33 g, Biotin 33 mg, Folic acid 0.83 g, Choline choloride 200 g, Zn 11.79 g, Fe 12.5 g, Cu 0.5g, Co 1.33 mg, Se 16.6 mg, Mg 66.79 mg and Mn 5.0 g.

** Calculated according , NRC (1977).

 

 

experimental period (5 to 11 weeks of age). Economic efficiency was calculated as follows equation :

           Economic efficiency ( E E ) =  (A- B ) / B × 100

Where: A = Price of Kg gain in Egyptian pound ( L.E ), B= Feed cost per Kg gain       ( L.E ).

           Performance Index (PI) was calculated according to North (1981) as follows equation: Performance Index = live weight  (Kg) /  Feed conversion  × 100.

 

 

 

Slaughter trial :

            At 11 weeks of age, three rabbits from each group were slaughtered and carcass traits were recorded by the standard technique according to Ckeeke et al. (1982).

       At the end of the experimental  periods (11 week of age), four digestibility  trials were  conducted by using three male rabbits from each treatment group which were housed individually in metabolic cages .

            The experimental period was considered as a preliminary period followed by 6 successive days collection period according to the European reference method for rabbit digestion trails (Perez et al., 1995).

            The composite samples of Guava by-product, diets offered and faeces output were chemically analyzed according to A. O. A. C. (1990) for crude protein,  crude fiber, either extract, nitrogen- free extract and total ash.

            DE (kcal/kg diet) values of the experimental  diets were calculated according to the equation described by Schiemann et al. (1972) as follows:

DE (kcal/kg diet) = 5.28 (DCP g/kg ) + 9.51 (DEE g/kg) + 4.2 (DCF + DNFE g/kg ) + 0.3.

            The total digestible nutrients (RDN) values of the diets were calculated by multiplying the digestible ether extract (EE) by factor 2.25 and multiplying each of digestible crude protein (CP) , crude fiber (CF) and nitrogen free extract (NFE) by the factor 1.0.

            Data of the experiment for all the variable were – subjected to statistical analysis according to Snedecor and Cochran (1982) by using SPSS system (1998). The difference between means were tested using Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test (Duncan, 1955).

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

 

Chemical composition of (GBP):

            A detailed chemical analysis of (GBP) used in the present study is shown in Table 2. The chemical composition of Guava by-product was nearly similar to the values given by Abd-Alla (1993), who found that raw guava by-product (RGP) contained 9.08% CP, 10% EE, 39.5% CF, 32.97% NFE, 2.55% CA, 0.38% calcium and 0.10% total phosphorus.

            However, data indicated that GBP has adequate nutrients that could be used in rabbit diets when compared to berseem hay and barley. Feed ingredient and chemical analysis of the experimental diets according to NRC (1977)are presented in Table 1.

 

Growth performance and feed utilization:

            Results in Table 3 show that final body weight at the end of the experiment were 1591.87, 1679.64, 1577.93 and 1535.41 g for rabbits fed diets  contained 0, 5, 10 and 15% GBP, respectively. The level of 5% GBP in the diet resulted the heavier significant live body weight, while, 15% GBP in the diet had the lowest significant live body weight.

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total weight gain and average daily body gain took the same trend of line body weight and the best significant gain was achieved when the diets included 5% GBP compared  with control  or other diets. The same trend had been reported by  Ghazalah and El-Shahat (1994)  they found a significant increase in live body weight and weight gain of rabbits fed olive kernel  meal (OKM) replaced 50% of barley, while it reduced significantly  when (OKM) were replaced 75 and 100% of barley. Abd El-Galil (2001) found also, that body weight gain of growing rabbits decreased by increasing olive pulp meal level more than 10% during (5-9 weeks of age) and 15% during (9-13 weeks of age).

            On the other hand, data showed that no significant differences in daily feed intake, feed conversion and PER when rabbits were feed diets included from 5% up to 15% GBP compared with control diet. However, insignificant improvements in these criteria were observed when experimental diet contained 5% GBP. These results agree with those obtained by Mousa and Abdel-Samee (2002)  who did not find significant difference in feed intake of growing rabbits feed diets containing (0.0, 10 and 20% olive  pulp). Also, El-Kerdawy (1997) in earlier studies found that, daily feed consumption for rabbits fed diets containing 0.0, 5.0, 10.0 and 15.0% olive pulp did not differ significantly.

 

Nutrients digestibility and nutritive values:

            The results in Table 4 showed that, digestibility coefficients of OM and CP for growing rabbits fed control diet or  including 5% GBP were significantly (P<0.5) better than obtained by rabbits fed diets contained 10 or 15% GBP. Abd-Alla (1993) suggested that Guava waste incorporate pectin, which, reduce protein utilization.

            However, the digestion coefficient values of DM, CF, EE and NFE did not differ among treatment groups. The same results reported by Hatem (2003) where, concluded that apparent digestibility of CP and CF for rabbits fed diets contained  5%-10% olive cake did not reduce  as compared to control, while, those contained  15% or 20% olive cake were significantly decreased (P<0.05). However, digestibility of DM, OM, EE and NFE were insignificantly affected by aforementioned levels of olive cake.

            From the data in Table 4, it could be noticed  that, the digestibility of nutritive values as DCP, TDN and DE were significantly decreased with increasing GBP level up to 15% in the experimental diets. 

            These results agree with those obtained by Ismail and Gippert (1999)using different levels of sunflower–cake diets of growing NZW rabbits.

 

Slaughter traits:

            Data of slaughter test of rabbits fed diet contained  different levels of GBP in Table (5), did not show any significant differences for dressing weight, carcass weight, giblets weight percentages or caecum parameters [Length- circum ference- full weight (g)]. These results agree with those reported by El-Kerdawy  (1997) and Zaza et al. (2001). They reported no significant differences in carcass traits for rabbits consumed diet including 5, 10, 15% and 20% olive cake.

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Similar results were obtained by Soad et al. (1994) who found that, no differences in the percentages of each of carcass, giblets and alimentary tract weights when rabbit diets contained  0.0, 10., 20 and 30 % tomato pomace.

            Moreover, El-Manylawi (2005) concluded that, rabbit groups fed on diets contained 3, 6 or 9% of geranium or spearmint by-product did not differ significantly as compared to control group in empty carcass, giblets and dressing percentages.

 

Economic evaluation:

            From the economical point, costs of feed / kg gain were 3.65, 3.68 and 3.76 L.E. for rabbits fed the diets which contained 15%, 5% and 10% GBP, respectively    ( Table 6). While, that fed control diet was recorded the highest feed cost. (4.03 L.E). Performance index (PI) for the experimental rabbits group fed diet contained 5% GBP at level 5% had achieved the best significant value, while, that contained GBP at level 15% recorded the lowest significant value. Also, the best relative economical efficiency (129.58%) was achieved by diet contained 5% GBP as compared with control diet (100%), under Egyptian conditions.

 

Conclusion:

            Results of this study concluded that guava by-product (Psidium guajava)  could be included up to 5% in diets of growing NZW rabbits in place of berseem hay and barley without any adverse effects on their growth performance and nutrients utilization, under Egyptian conditions.

 

 

REFERENCES

 

Abd-Alla , A. A. (1993): The utilization of guava by-product in broiler diets. M. Sc. Thesis, Fac. of Agric., Alexandria University.

Abd El-Galil, K. (2001): Utilization of olive  pulp meal in feeding growing rabbits. J. Agric. Sci. Mansoura Univ., 26 (2): 727-736.

A. O. A. C. (1990): Association of official Analytical Chemists. Official Methods of Analysis. 15^th Edition Washington D.C.,USA.

Cheek, P. R. (1987): Rapeseed meal as protein supplement for rabbits. Rabbit- Res. Center New Shetter. J. Appl. Rabbit. Res., 2 (3): 14-15.

Cheeke, P. R.; N. M. Patton and G. S. Templton (1982): Rabbit Production. The inter state printers and publishers Danville III P.125.

Duncan, D. B. (1955): Multiple Range and Multiple “F” test. Biometrics, 1 : 1-42.

Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture(2005). Economic Section.Agricultural Statistics (2^nd  part), September 2005.

El-Hindawy, M. M.; M. H. Yacout; I. I. Hassan and N. A. Ebidalla (2003): Evaluation of onion seeds as unconventional feedstuff for growing rabbits. Egyptian Journal  of Rabbit Science, 13 (2): 183-194.

El-Kerdawy, D. M. A. (1997): Olive pulp  as a new energy source for growing rabbit. Egyptian Journal of Rabbits Science, 7 (1): 1-12.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

El-Manylawi, M. A.; M. R. M. Ibrahim; Fatma, G. Ahmed and Walaa A. Salama (2005): Performance of growing rabbits fed diets containing geranium and spearmint by-products. Egyptian Journal of Rabbit Science, 15 (1): 13-26.

Fonnesbeck, P. V. ; L. E. Harris and L. C. Kearl (1974): Digestion of plant cell walls by animals. J. Anim. Sci., 39 : 182-188.

Ghazalah, A. A. and A. A. El-Shahat (1994): Digestibility and acceptability of some agro-industrial by-products by rabbits. Journal of Egyptian Poultry Science, 14 : 401-424.

Hatem A. A. (2003): Effect of feeding olive cake on growth performance, nutrients  digestibility, carcass traits  and blood  constituents of growing rabbits. Egyptian Journal of Rabbit Science, 13 (2): 103-116.

Ismail, F. S. A. and T. Gippert (1999): Using sunflower by-product  in growing  rabbit diets. Egyptian Journal of Rabbit Science, 9 (2): 285-297.

Mousa, M. R. M. and A. M. Abdel-Samee (2002): Effect of olive pulp feeding on the growth performance and some related blood biochemical changes of growing rabbits under semi- arid conditions. Egyptian Journal of Rabbit Science , 12 (1): 59-68.

North, M. O. (1981): Commercial Chicken Production. 3^rd Edition , AVI publishing  Company , INC , USA.

NRC (1977): National Research Council. Nutrient Requirements of Rabbits. National Academy of Science, Washington, D.C.

Pagano-Toscano, G.; G. B. Benatti and I. Zoccarato (1986):  Comparison of crude fiber and the van sorest detergent methods for fiber determination in rabbit feeds . J. Appl. Rabbit Res., 9 : 69-75,

Perez, J. M.; F. Lebas; T. Gidenne; L. Maertens; G. Xiccato; R. Parigi-Bini; A. Dalla-Zotte; M. E. Cossu; A. Carazzolo; M. J. Villamide; R.Carabano; M. J. Fraga; M. A. Ramos; C. Cervera; E. Blas; J. Fernandez-Carmona; E. Falcao; M. L. Cmnha and J. Bengala Freire (1995): European reference method for invivo determination of diet digestibility in rabbits. World Rabbit Sci., 3 : 41-43.

Schieman, I.; L. Nehring ; W. Hoffman ; Jentach and A. Chudy (1972): Energyetishe futerbwertung undermergienormen duechdes achdruck. Veb deutsche land wirtachfts, Berlin, p. 344.

Shqueir A. and H. Qwasmi (1994): Utilization of olive by-product in livestock ration. Bethlehem Univ. Journal , 8 : 45-54.

Snedecor, G. and W. G. Cochran, (1982):  Statistical Methods. (7^th ed). Iowa State Univ. Press. Ames. Iowa.

Soad, S. Ahmed; K. M. EL-Gendy; H. Ibrahim; A. A. Rashwan and M. I. Tawfeek (1994): Growth performance, digestibility, carcass traits and some physiological aspects of growing rabbits fed tomato pomage as a substitution for  alfalfa meal. Egyptian Journal of  Rabbit Science, 4 (1): 1-13.

SPSS (1998): Spss user’s Guide Statistics.  Version 8. Copright SPSS Inc., USA.

Zaza, G. H. ; G. Fatma; F. Abo-Donia and M. R. Hammad (2001): Effect of incorporation olive  cake as anon – conventional feed stuff in diets of growing commercial rabbits. Egyptian J. Nutrition  and Feed. 4 (Special Issue): 861-868.

معـدل أداء الأرانـب النـامیــةالمغذاة على علائق تحتوى على تفل الجوافة

 

محمـد محمـد نصـر الله

معهد بحـوث الإنتـاج الحیـوانی  - مرکز البحوث الزراعیـة - الدقى - الجیزة .

 

 

• استخدم فى هذه الدراسة 36 ذکر أرنب نامى من نوع النیوزیلندی الأبیض عمر ( 5 ) أسابیع فى تجربة      ( استمرت لفترة 6 أسابیع ) لدراسة تأثیر الاستبدال الجزئی لکل من دریس البرسیم والشعیر فى علائق الآرانب النامیة بتفل الجوافة کمصدر غیر تقلیدی فى تغذیة الأرانب على معدل الأداء ومعاملات الهضم وبعض صفات الذبیحة والکفاءة الاقتصادیة
• قسمت الآرانب عشوائیاً إلى [ 4  ]  مجامیع تجریبیة متماثلة تقریباً بمتوسط وزن 639.98 جم  ( تحتوى کل مجموعة على 3  مکررات ) حیث استخدم [ 4  ]  مستویات إحلال من مخلف تفل الجوافة هى [ صفر ، 5 ، 10 ، 15 % ] من دریس البرسیم والشعیر وکانت جمیع العلائق التجریبیة متماثلة تقریباً فى قیمتها الغذائیة [ 15.85 – 15.99 % بروتین خام ،  10.40  -- 13.65 %  ألیاف خام  ،  2700 – 2760  ک کالورى طاقة مهضومة / کجم ].

أوضحـت النتـائج ما یلی :

( 1 )   احتواء علائق الأرانب على تفل الجوافة بنسبة تصل إلى 10 % لم یؤثر سلبـاً على معدلات أداء الآرانب النامیة .

( 2 )   أفضل تحسن معنوی  فى  (  وزن الجســم ، الزیادة فى النمــو ، متوسط النمو الیومی،  دلیل الأداء  ) تم الحصول علیه عند مستوى إضافة 5 %  تفل جوافة . وفى المقابل سجلت نفس هذه القیاسات انخفاضاً معنویاً عندما وصلت نسبة الإضافة إلى 15 % تفل جوافة بینما لم نلاحظ أى فروق معنویة نتیجة المعاملات فى کل من کمیة الغذاء المستهلک أو معدل التحویل الغذائی أو معدل الاستفادة من بروتین الغذاء.

( 3 ).معاملات الهضم لکل من المادة الجافة والألیاف الخام والدهن الخام والمستخلص الخالی من النتروجین لم تتأثر معنویاً بإضافة تفل الجوافة للعلائق . بینما انخفض معامل الهضم معنویاً لکل من المادة العضویة والبروتین الخام  عند إضافة تفل الجوافة بمستویات   10  أو  15  %  -  على أی حال لم تتأثر القیم الغذائیة لکل من البروتین المهضوم والمرکبات المهضومة الکلیة والطاقة المهضومة باحتواء العلائق على تفل الجوافة .

( 4 ) لم تسجل أى اختلافات معنویة لقیاس الذبیحة و الأعور  نتیجة استخدام العلائق التجریبیة مقارنة بعلیقة الکنترول

   ( 5 )  تحسن العائد الاقتصادی نتیجة إضافة 5 أو 10 أو 15 % تفل جوافة للعلائق التجریبیة بینما کانت أفضل کفاءة  اقتصادیة سجلت للمجموعة التی غذیت علیقه احتوت  5 % تفل جوافة .

 

Article View: 247

PDF Download: 247