Effect of housing and feeding systems on meat production and quality traits of broiler rabbits

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Date
2016
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LUVAS
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.
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New Zealand White rabbits, Cage, Pen, Deep litter, Amla, Spirulina, FCR, Growth performance etc
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