Effect of different dietary starch levels and sex on productive performance and digestive enzymes activity of growing rabbits [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Seventy two sexed New Zealand White rabbits (NZW) 25 days of age (36 males +36 females) were used in this experiment to study the effect of different dietary starch levels and sex on productive performance. nutrients digestibility coefficients. carcass characteristics. digestive tract measurements. blood constituents and enzymes activity. The rabbits were divided into three experimental diets containing three levels of starch {L (16%). M (19%) or H (22%) with two sexes. Each group for each sex was subdivided into four replicates with 3 rabbits each and the initial live body weights of all experimental groups were almost similar. The results indicated that, male rabbits can utilize from the different levels of starch (16-22%) but female rabbits cannot do that and the highest productive performance for female was dictated when fed 19% starch only. Mortality rate of growing rabbits was high in female (25%) compared with male (10.92%). However. low mortality rate was noted for rabbit fed 19% dietary starch level.

Summary in Arabic.

1