Influence of increasing feeding levels of corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS)‎ to growing rabbits on growth performance, carcass characteristics and fatty acids profile of meat

Abstract EN

Thirty six white New Zealand growing male rabbits 6 weeks old were used to investigate the influence of feeding increasing levels of DDGS on performance, carcass quality and meat fatty acids profile.

Rabbits were allotted into 4 treatment groups of 9 rabbits each, and fed one of the experimental diets which contain 0, 10, 20 and 30 % dried distillers corn grains with solubles (DDGS) for 12 weeks after which 3 rabbits of each group were used to test coefficients of total tract apparent digestibility of the experimental diets.

At the end of the experimental period, 3 rabbits of each group were slaughtered to determine carcass quality and fatty acids profile.

Inclusion of graded levels of DDGS decreased feed intake and improved feed conversion.

Coefficients of total tract apparent digestibility showed no difference between treatments for DM, OM, CP.

However, EE digestion coefficients of the diets used increased by increasing DDGS level and the values of CF were inconsistent.

Carcass weight and dressing percentage were slightly increased by increasing the level of DDGS.

Carcass fat content significantly increased by increasing DDGS level.

Fatty acids profile showed slight variations among treatments with remarkable increase, yet insignificant, in PUFA by adding increasing levels of DDGS.