The effect of different levels of date seeds meal on new zealand rabbits performance

الملخص EN

Two experiments were conducted at Poultry Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University.

In the first experiment forty eight New Zealand White rabbits of both sex weaned at six weeks of age, weighing 986 g on average were randomly divided into 4 experimental treatments (12 rabbit per treatment).

Four diets were formulated to be isocaloric and isonitrogenous having 0, 10, 20 and 30% DSM.

The experiment aimed to study the utilization of DSM in feeding growing rabbits.

Digestibility trial was carried out to evaluate the digestion coefficient and nutritive values of the experimental diets In the second experiment twenty four male New Zealand White adult rabbits (averaged of 3 Kg) were divided randomly into four groups, six per each.

All rabbits were housed individually in galvanized wire cages.

Results obtained indicated that the feed intake was significantly decreased as dietary DSM increased.

The reduction in feed intake was 26.8 and 31.7 % for the diets contained 20 and 30 % DSM, respectively.

The levels of 10 and 30 % DSM significantly (P < 0.05) improved feed conversion up to 13 % during the period of 6-16 weeks of age.

However, the feed efficiency was significantly decreased during the 3rd and 4th month of age.

The carcass weight significantly (PO.05) decreased by increasing dietary DSM levels, while the dressing percent was not affected by DSM levels.

No significant effect of DSM levels on forelimbs, hind limbs and loin percentages.

However, the kidney and liver percentages were significantly affected by inclusion of DSM in the diets.

The results of nutrient digestibility cleared that using diet containing 30 % DSM decreased significantly (PO.05) the digestion coefficients of CP.

The digestibility of DM, OM, NFE and EE were decreased insignificantly due to DSM inclusion in rabbit's diet by any level.

However, digestion coefficients of CF significantly decreased by increasing DSM level.

The nutritive values of the experimental diets expressed as TDN, DCP or DE were significantly decreased when DSM represented 10, 20 and 30 % from the diet.

The diet contained 30 % DSM had the lowest nutritive value of DCP, DE and TDN.

The values of DE were decreased by 13, 18 and 21 % at the level of 10, 20 and 30 % DSM, respectively.