UTILIZING SALINE WATER TO PRODUCE HALLOPHYTES FODDER TO FEED RABBITS

Abstract

The present study is aiming at utilizing saline water to produce halophytes fodder to be a feasible feed, reduce feed cost, and overcome fresh water shortage and to evaluate the nutritive quality and nutritional performance of rabbits. Forty eight rabbits (24 males and 24 females) were raised from birth to weaning on breastfeeding till fourth week of age, all rabbits were received the same treatment in this period 'breastfeeding'. These rabbits immediately after weaned were assigned into six similar groups (8 animals each) 4 males and 4 females in the beginning of the fifth week of age. The animals were then divided randomly and fed proportional on fresh or saline water irrigated kochia indica and/or granular feed. Rabbits of the first group (control group, G1) were fed on 100% granular feed (growth and maintenance requirements) from fifth to eleventh weak , G2 were fed 100% saline water irrigated kochia (SWK) (growth) and granular feed (maintenance), G3 were fed 100% fresh water irrigated kochia(FWK) (growth+ maintenance), G4 were fed 50% fresh kochia, 50% saline water irrigated kochia feed (Growth), Granular feed (maintenance), G5 were fed 25% fresh waterkochia, 75% saline water irrigated kochia (Growth), Granular feed (maintenance) and G6 were fed 25% saline water irrigated kochia, 75% fresh kochia (Growth), Granular feed (maintenance). The results showed that insignificant differences (P≥0.05) were observed in plasma urea, creatinine, AST and ALT. Concerning growth performance and feed efficiency, the group which fed on 100% granular feed (G1) showed the highest value of average daily gain and daily feed intake (P≤0.05) compared with the other groups while G3 had a better values (P≤0.05) of feed conversion. Regarding initial and final weights, a significant III