EFFECT OF OLIVE OIL SUPPLEMENTATION ON GROWTH, CARCASS TRAITS AND GENERAL HEALTH OF RABBITS UNDER HEAT STRESS CONDITIONS | ||||
| Egyptian Journal of Nutrition and Feeds | ||||
| Article 13, Volume 22, Issue 1, April 2019, Page 141-153 PDF (2.05 MB) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejnf.2019.76345 | ||||
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| Authors | ||||
| M. A. Shams El-Deen1; A. M. El-Hais1; G. E. Younan2 | ||||
| 1Department of Animal Production, Faculty of agriculture, Tanta University. | ||||
| 2Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center (APRI). | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| The aim of this experiment is to estimate the effects of olive oil treatment at different levels on growth performance, feed utilization, blood components and immunity indices of weaned New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. A total of 40 weaned NZW rabbits, aged 5 weeks at the start of the experiment and weighed 702.58±12.70 g live body weight (LBW) were assigned randomly into four similar experimental groups of 10 rabbits in each group (5 males and 5 females). Rabbits in all groups were fed commercial pelleted diet (CPD) containing about 18% CP, 13% CF and DE (2800 Kcal/kg). Rabbits in the 1st group (G1), 2nd group (G2) and 3rd group (G3) were fed CPD supplemented with 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6% olive oil, respectively. Rabbits in 4th group (G4) were fed un-supplemented CPD and served as a control group. Results showed that rabbits fed olive oil diets (G1, G2 and G3) consumed less (P<0.05) feeds, had heavier LBW (P<0.05), average daily gain and had better (P<0.05) feed conversion ratio than those fed control one (G4). Olive oil treatments did not affect (P≥0.05) on carcass traits, and concentration of total proteins, glucose, cholesterol and HDL concentrations, as well as immunity indices. The histological examination indicated normal liver and kidney function of both treatment groups and suggested higher absorptive surface area of small intestine in G3 than in other groups. In conclusion, adding olive oil at different levels to the diet (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6%) had positive effects on growth performance parameters, without adversely effects on blood biochemicals, enzyme activity, carcass traits and general health status of growing rabbits during the age interval from 5 to 13 weeks of age under heat stress conditions. Dietary addition of olive oil at a level of 0.6% showed the best results. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Rabbits; olive oil; performance; carcass; Blood; immunity | ||||
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