Impact of lactulose and biogen as feed additives on replacement of alfa alfa hay by wheat straw in rabbit rations [electronic resource].

Includes references.

A total number of sixty three New Zealand White (NZW) growing male rabbits at 35 days of age and average 678.8 assigned into 7 equal treatment groups (9 rabbits of each) and 3 replicates to investigate the effect of partial and completely replacement of alfa alfa hay by wheat straw with lactulose or biogen supplementation in drinking water on their growth performance, carcass traits and economic efficiency. Three different replacement of alfa alfa hay by wheat straw (22, 33 and 66%) for prebiotic (1% Lactulose in water) and for probiotic (1% Biogin in water). The results showed that the biotechnological additives have enhanced growth, although there were no significant differences between treatments the highest live body weight was 2034g. for treatment 3 (33% wheat straw replacement of alfa alfa hay + 1 % lactulose in the drinking water). So, there were no significance difference in live body weigh gain, daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio, daily body weight gain between prebiotic and probiotic for the experimental rations. Performance index percentage did not show any significant difference between experimental diets and treatment but the highest were 37.33, 9.94 and 41.25% in T3 under oral prebiotic during the fourth, eight the week of experimental age and the period from 0-8 weeks The results indicated that experimental treatments had no effects on carcass characteristics except the treatment which contained 1% Prebiotic in water and 33% wheat straw replacement of alfa alfa hay improved liver weight%. From the nutritional and economical point of view. It could be recommended to feeding growing NZW on a diet containing 22% wheat straw replacement of alfa alfa hay + 1% biogen in the drinking water. Moreover, replacement of alfa alfa hay by wheat straw at levels of 22, 33 and 66% with lactulose or biogen supplementation in drinking water for growing NZW male rabbits diets without any adverse effect on their growth and better than the control (non-replacement, non supplementation) treatment performance.

Summary in Arabic.

1