Effect of prebiotic and probiotic supplementation on performance of rabbits
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Date
2023
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Publisher
LUVAS,Hisar
Abstract
Eighteen New Zealand White rabbits of either sex at 24 weeks of age were randomly
allocated to three treatments (six rabbits in each treatment). Rabbits in each treatment received
different diets [Standard control diet (T1), Diet supplemented with Prebiotic @400 mg/kg concentrate
(T2) and Diet supplemented with Probiotic @ 1 billion CFU/Kg concentrate (T3)] in addition to ad lib.
berseem fodder. The concentrate mixture of group T1 were formulated using maize, soybean meal,
ground nut cake, gram, mineral mixture and common salt. The concentrate diets formulated were isonitrogenous
and iso-caloric.
Results showed that diet supplemented with prebiotic and probiotic had improved
growth performance parameters (body measurements) as compared to the control group. The total
weight gain was statistically (p<0.05) higher in rabbits raised on diets supplemented with
prebiotic (1563.67g) and probiotic (1557.17 g) as compared to standard control diet (1419.17
g). Significantly (p<0.05) higher serum total protein and globulin values and significantly
(p<0.05) lower total serum cholesterol and low density lipoprotein values were observed in
prebiotic and probiotic supplemented groups than un-supplemented groups. In prebiotic (T2)
and probiotic (T3) supplemented groups, the comparative calculated dressing percentage (57.28 and
57.07 %), body cut up parts i.e., foreleg (135.76 and 137.06 g), hind leg (230.69 and 233.11g), back
(263.88 and 270.73g) and chest (219.78 and 226.75g) and meat bone ratio (5.35 and 5.38) showed the
higher values as compare to dressing percentage (53.89%), body cut up parts i.e., foreleg ( 127.46g), hind
leg (217.48g), back (243.29g) and chest (209.24g) and meat bone ratio (4.91) of control group. However,
the per cent moisture content showed a non-significant (p ≤0.05) difference among all the groups, but
significantly (P≤0.05) higher mean per cent protein of meat was recorded in T2 (19.17%) and T3
(19.52%) groups as compared to meat of T1 (17.61%) group. The total meat cholesterol levels (mg/g) in
T2 and T3 group (160.38 and 159.81 mg/g) found lower as compared to control T1 group (163.67) of
rabbit meat samples. Nutrient intake, digestibility of nutrients and nutritive value of ration was
significantly (p<0.05) improved in rabbits raised with prebiotic and probiotic supplementation in their
concentrates. The results inferred that rabbits fed prebiotic and pro biotic supplemented diets had
improved feed intake, FCR and carcass characteristics. Feed cost per kg weight gain was found
lowest in treatment group which was supplemented with probiotic.