USING SOME PLANTS BY-PRODUCT IN RABBIT FEEDING

Abstract

The present experiment was carried out at the Cairo University, Giza, during November and through December 2019. The laboratory work was done at the Regional Center for Food and Feed and Ain Shams University. This study goal aimed to experiment with the effect of using different dietary levels of fennel straw and basil straw as a partial replacement (25, 50, and 75%) for alfalfa hay on growth performance, digestibility coefficients of nutrients, nutritive value, nitrogen balance and some blood plasma constituents of growing New Zealand White rabbits. Carcass characteristics and economic efficiency were studied. The result is summarized as follows.

1. Proximate analysis of basil straw and Fennel straw compared to alfalfa hay The results of the chemical analysis showed that alfalfa hay had the highest percentage of crude protein, organic matter, etheric extract, and nitrogen-free extract, while it contained the lowest percentage of ash. Basil straw contains the highest percentage of ash, while the lowest percentage of crude fiber. Fennel straw contains the highest percentage of crude fiber, NDF, ADF and cellulose, and the lowest percentage of protein.

2. daily Feed consumption (g/rabbit/day) The fourth group that fed 75% of basil straw recorded the highest intake while the second group (25% of basil straw) recorded the lowest consumption rate during the period from 5-11 weeks of age.

3. Nutrients digestibility and nutritive values Replacing alfalfa hay with basil straw 50% of the diet led to an improvement in the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein,