Effect of housing and feeding systems on meat production and quality traits of broiler rabbits
Abstract
One hundred and eight New Zealand White rabbits of either sex at 6 weeks of age
were randomly allocated to nine treatments in three different housing systems [three tier
cage (T1, T2 & T3) system, with each tier divided into two compartments (0.70m X 0.30 m,
0.90 m high, 6 rabbits/cage, 28.57 rabbits/ m2, n=36); pen (T4, T5 & T6) system (1.50 X 1.33
m, 1.00 m high, 6 rabbits/pen, 3.01 rabbits/ m2, n=36) and deep litter (T7, T8 & T9) system
(1.50 X 1.33 m, 1.00 m high, 6 rabbits/pen, 3.01 rabbits/ m2, n=36) in a closed room where
the temperature was maintained 20±5º C and humidity 60±15% during the trial. Rabbits in
each housing system received three different diets [Standard control diet (T1, T4 & T7), Diet
supplemented with 2% Amla (T2, T5 & T8) and Diet supplemented with 5% Spirulina (T3, T6
& T9)] in addition to ad lib. berseem fodder. The concentrate diets formulated were isonitrogenous
and iso-caloric.
Rabbits raised in cage system had significantly higher abdominal girth as compared
to pen and deep litter system at 90 days of age. (29.20 vs 27.75, 27.28 cm, P< 0.05). The
total weight gain was found statistically (P<0.05) higher in rabbits raised in cage system
(1323.30 g) than pen housed rabbits (1281.75 g) which was inturn found to be significantly
higher than deep litter housed rabbits (1229.29 g). The total weight gain in Amla and
Spirulina supplemented diets followed the same trends. Nevertheless there were no
significant changes in the serum biochemical indices, only the serum globulin value was
significantly (P<0.05) lower and albumin value was found significantly higher in the groups
fed Spirulina supplemented diets as compared to groups fed with non supplemented diets.
While the rabbits reared under cage system were recorded with significantly higher portion
of intermediate part than the rabbits reared under pen and deep litter system with or without
any supplementation, no proper trends were reported for fore and hind part.
Crude protein % and Crude fat % of rabbits raised under cage system were found to
be significantly higher than pen and deep litter system irrespective of supplementation,
while reverse is true for Moisture %. The results of the study further inferred that rabbits
reared in cage system improved growth performance, FCR & carcass characteristics; while
no significant effect of spirulina or amla was observed except largely increasing the feeding
cost of rabbits.
Description
Keywords
New Zealand White rabbits, Cage, Pen, Deep litter, Amla, Spirulina, FCR, Growth performance etc