Fawzia A. Hassan^1*; M. R. M. Ibrahim² and M.M. Basyony³

¹Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, 12618. El-  Dokki, Giza, Egypt.

²Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

³Department of Poultry Nutrition, Agricultural Research Center, 12618. El-  Dokki, Giza, Egypt.

^*Corresponding author: fawzia_amer@yahoo.com

Abstract :

This work aimed to study the effects of partial and complete substitution of barley by chickpea screenings by-products (CSB) at levels 25, 50, 75 and 100% in rabbit diets on growth performance and nutrients digestibility of New Zealand White rabbits. Seventy five rabbits, five weeks old with an average body weight 786.73 g±32.02 were randomly divided into five groups. Each group included five replicates (three rabbits each). Results of growth trail revealed that rabbits fed 25% and 50% CSB achieved significantly (P<0.05) better ADG by 10.56%; 12.52% compared with the control group. Besides, FCR values were significantly (P<0.05) better with rabbits group fed 25 and 50% CSB than the control group (3.65 and 3.74 vs. 4.16 g feed/g gain). Nutrients digestibility increased (P<0.05) with the rabbit groups fed 25 or 50% CSB diets in comparison to the control group. The recorded values were 69.20 and 69.44% vs. 63.88% for DM; 71.51 and 71.56% vs.66.12% for OM.; 70.55 and 72.30% vs. 63.77% for CP.; 52.40 and 51.80% vs. 42.75% for CF.; 75.61 and 75.31% vs.71.60% for NFE, respectively. Accordingly, rabbit groups fed 25 or 50% CSB recorded higher (P<0.05) values of DCP, TDN and DE in comparison with the other experimental groups. Total VFA values were higher (P<0.05) with rabbit groups fed CSB at 25 and 50% CSB diets (5.98 and 5.79 meq/100ml). Higher increases (P<0.05) in hot carcass weight were observed in rabbits group fed 50% CSB diets than the control group. On the other hand, 100% CSB diets recorded the lowest (P<0.05) hot carcass weight, dressing %, Heart% and total edible parts. Significant (P<0.05) higher values of plasma total protein and urea-N were detected in rabbits fed diets contained 50% CSB than the control group. While, both groups fed 75 and 100% CSB had nearly comparable values of total protein and lower (P<0.05) concentrations of plasma total cholesterol compared with the control group. Inclusion of 25, 50, 75 and 100% CSB improved economical efficiency and net revenue compared to the control group. It could be concluded that substitution of chickpea screenings by-products as non-traditional energy source in rabbit diets at 25, 50, 75 and 100% instead of barley has no negative effect on growth performance and digestibility of most nutrients and nutritive values of tested diets indicating that it could be considered as promising source of energy for incorporation into rabbit's diets.

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