Alleviation of heat-stressed growing rabbits by using some feed additives under Egyptian condition [electronic resource].

Includes references.

The experiment was carried out in the Rabbitry Farm of the Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University. Zagazig, Egypt, during December, 2000 to January, 2001 (as winter season), and during July to August. 2001 (as summer season). One hundred and forty male New Zealand White rabbits at 35 day old, with nearly equal live body weight at the beginning of the experiment were randomly allotted to 14 treatment groups, of 10 rabbits each. Seven rabbit groups were reared during the summer season conditions (as the heat stress season), while the other seven groups were reared during the winter season. Within each season, the first group was fed on the control diet (without supplementation), while the second group was fed on diet supplemented with 100 μg thyroxin /kg diet, the third was fed on diet supplemented with 50 μg thyroxin / kg diet, the fourth group was fed on diet supplemented with 1.5 g methionine / kg diet, the fifth group was fed on diet supplemented with 0.75 g methionine / kg diet, the sixth group was fed on diet supplemented with 1.5 g lysine / kg diet, the seventh group was fed on diet supplemented with 0.75 g lysine /kg diet. Exposed rabbits to heat stress reduced the groWth rate and feed efficiency. Supplemented heat stressed rabbit diets with methionine, lysine and thyroxin improved the rabbit performance.

Summary in Arabic.

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