Phase feeding in fattening rabbits

Abstract EN

In this study two points were tried to be solved, the first was the effect of phase feeding successive diets, differing in calorie / protein ratio, on fattening performance and digestibility.

The second point was the value of using high energy diets while maintaining the crude fiber at its high level.

Two experiments were performed in this study, the first was the growth experiment and the second was the digestibility one .In experiment I, seven groups each of 12 weaned New Zealand White rabbits were fed according to different seven feeding regimens, three of them (group I, group IV and group VII) followed single feed program and fed diets 1 (2500 and 17) , 4 (2700 and 18.5 ) , and 7 (2900 kcal ,DE / kg & 19.5 % CP ) while the other four groups followed the three - phase feeding system (4–7, 7-10, and 10–12 weeks of age) and fed on diets with 2500 kcal / kg and CP % from 20 descending to 14 (group II) and from 14 ascending to 20 group III) and diets with) 2700 kcal / kg with CP % from 21.5 to 15.5 (group V) and from 15.5 to 21.5 %( group VI).

In experiment II, the digestibility of the different diets in the three phase periods was determined where 4 rabbits were borrowed at time from its respective group .Results revealed that the feasibility of feeding high energy–high protein diets to fattening rabbits.

As feed conversion efficiency was linearly improved by increasing energy and crude protein, the DE and CP were efficiently used in growth as it was clear from the figures for kcal / gain : 7.75 and9.91 vs.

10.56 and protein efficiency ratios 1.92 and 1.47 vs.

1.39 for :-18.5 and 2700, -19.5 and 2900 versus 2500 kcal, DE / kg and 17 % CP -diets, respectively.

The digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, and ether extract of diet 7 was significantly higher than that of diet 1.

Comparing the single feed system with the suggested phase feeding systems indicated that beginning of fattening period on high energy and high protein– diet ( 2700 kcal, DE / kg and 21.5 % CP ) with reducing the protein level, as rabbits grew, to 18.5 and then to 15.5 % led to the most efficient fattening performance .

The cost of 1 kg gain was the final judgment.

There was reduction in production cost with the suggested feeding regimes to be tested below the recommended control one .The highest cost / kg gain (about 6.4 L.E.) was recorded by group I and group IV (to some extent) while the least cost (5.03) was recorded by group V with savings of about 21 %.

The production cost of group II and group VI was in between.

Although group V had the least cost, it was not distinctly different from group VII and group III.

In conclusion, we recommend the three diets-system of group V to be applied or the feeding system under which group III was raised when the price of oil is high or uneconomical to be added.