EFFECT OF SPIRULINA LEVELS ON NEW-ZEALAND WHITE RABBITS PERFORMANCE

Elakkad, Hend A.; Abdel-Monem, U.M.; Mousa, Yasmeen I.M.; Hamza, S.

doi:10.21608/zjar.2023.313659

EFFECT OF SPIRULINA LEVELS ON NEW-ZEALAND WHITE RABBITS PERFORMANCE

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Biochem. Dept., Fac. Agric., Zagazig Univ., Egypt

² Anim. Prod. Dept., Fac. Agric., Zigzag Univ., Egypt

³ . Regional Cent. Food and Feed Agric., Res. Cent., Minist. Agric., Egypt

10.21608/zjar.2023.313659

Abstract

Twenty-four weanling New Zealand white rabbits (NWZ) at five weeks of age and nearly similar average body weight (682-693 g) randomly divided into four treatment groups (6 rabbits per group), each group was subdivided into three replicates (two rabbits per replicate). The 1^stgroup fed the basal diet and given tap water without supplements as a control group, the 2^ndand 3^rdgroups were given tap water and fed diet supplemented with spirulina at levels of 0.1 and 0.2% diet, respectively the experiment (8 weeks). Growth performance (live body weight, feed intake, daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio) and carcass traits were studied. Results obtained showed that, significant (P<0.01) promoting effect on Spirulina platensis at (0.1 and 0.2%) in the diet, significantly (p<0.05 or p<0.01) higher DBWG through 5-9 and 5-13 weeks of age with insignificant affect between them than in the control. While DBWG was significantly (P˂0.01) higher in rabbits received diet, supplemented with 0.2% spirulina when compared with control and other treatment groups. the average of feed intake and feed conversion ratio of rabbits supplemented with spirulina at levels 0.1 and 0.2% in the diet were improved significantly (p<0.05 or p<0.01), when compared with control. The studied carcass traits (fore part, hind part, liver, head, heart, lung, kidney and dressing percntage) were significantly higher in growing rabbits fed on diet contained 0.1 and 0.2% spirulina compared with control group.

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