EVALUATION OF SPROUTED BARLEY IN RABBIT DIETS | ||
| Journal of Animal and Poultry Production | ||
| Article 11, Volume 27, Issue 12, December 2002, Pages 8233-8241 PDF (709.73 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/jappmu.2002.257652 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Fathia A. Ibrahim,; A. M. M. Zeid | ||
| Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| This study aimed to evaluate the effects of partial replacement of concentrate feed mixture by sprouted barley on bedding of rice straw and using the product either fresh or silage in growing New Zealand White rabbits, (NZW) diet. Twenty one males (NZW) rabbits of 7 weeks old weighing 1086 to 1091 g on average were divided into 3 equal groups (7 rabbits each) according to their weights. Rabbits were given three diets being a commercial basal pelleted diet alone (concentrate feed mixture 100 %) as a control (G1), while the other two groups were offered 70 % of the control diet and free consumption from sprouted barley either fresh (G2) or silage (G3) for 7 weeks (experimental period). The effects of the experimental diets on digestibility, feeding value, growth performance, carcass traits and economic growth efficiency were studied. Results indicated that digestibility of OM, CP and NFE showed the highest value with G3 compared with those fed control (G1) and G2 diets without significant differences. While, EE and CF digestibility were the highest values with G1 (control) than those fed G2 and G3 diets. The differences were significantly (p < 0.05) with EE digestibility and non significant with CF digestibility. The values of TDN% and DCP% were slightly increased with the control (G1) diet than the other diets. The groups fed G2 had the least values for all digestibility coefficient and feeding values. The group that receiving the control diet recorded the highest average final live body weight (2084 g) and daily weight gain (20.39g) followed by G3 that receiving sprouted barley as silage and G2 which receiving sprouted barley as fresh. The daily weight gain ranged between 16.27 g. and 20.38 g. / h / d. for all groups without significant differences among them. Dressing percentage (based on empty weight) showed nearly similar values, being 66.21, 66.22 and 64.19 % for the control group, (G3) and (G2), respectively. With regarded to meat composition of rabbits, the data showed that CP percentage was higher in G2 and G3 than the control, but fat take the reverse trend. Total feed cost for one kg. growth was 3.402 LE and 3.119 LE for G2 and G3 inverses 3.745 LE for the control. The same trend was noticed with economic efficiency, since, the improvement was 16.12 and 32.09 % for G2 and G3 respectively, compared to the control. Generally, It is possible to use sprouted barley either in fresh form or as silage instead of CFM up to 30 % without detrimental effects on rabbits growth performance or rabbit’s health. | ||
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