Mulberry (Morus alba) leaves contain a high amount of digestible carbohydrates, protein and minerals, making it an attractive, natural, low-cost feed ingredient in rabbit rations. The present study evaluated the effect of stepwise replacement of a concentrate diet with wilted M. alba leaves on growth performance and meat quality of rabbits. Sixty indigenous rabbits (age, 36 ± 2 days) were assigned to 5 diets (12 rabbits per diet). The 5 diets consisted of a commercial concentrate diet (control; WML0), and stepwise replacement of the concentrate with 25% (WML25), 50% (WML50), 75% (WML75), and 100% (WML100) wilted M. alba leaves. Final body weight (1238 g/rabbit), and total (904.1 g/rabbit) and daily (18.8 g/day/rabbit) weight gains were higher (P < 0.05) in rabbits fed with WML50. The WML50 also supported the best (P < 0.05) feed to gain ratio (4.50). Moreover, higher (P < 0.05) reference carcass weight (571.7 g) and a higher dressing percentage (55.8%) were recorded for WML50. Composition of the diets did not alter (P > 0.05) meat pH, water release and cooking loss. In conclusion, M. alba successfully replaced 50% of concentrate in rabbit diet and supported a higher growth performance and carcass yield without negative effects on meat quality

Evaluating the Nutritional Value of the Newly Developed Quality Protein Maize in Pakistan: Impact on Broiler Performance and Profitability

Effect of Flaxseed Supplementation of Feed on Growth, Carcass Yield, Meat and Fatty Acids Profile of Rabbit Carcass

Non-antibiotic feed additives are nowadays increasingly used in animal feed industry as more and more reports are surfaced on antibiotic resistance. This study quantified the effects of enzymes and yeast supplementation, individually or in combination, on growth performance, diet digestibility, carcass quality, and ileum morphometry of fattening rabbits. Forty-eight indigenous male weaned rabbits (age, 37 ± 2 days; average body weight (ABW)) 340 ± 3.2 g) were assigned into four dietary treatments (16 replicates; 3 rabbits/replicate)). The four diets were (i) a basal (control) diet (without additives), containing concentrate (75% of the feed) and wilted mulberry leaves (25% of thetotal feed); (ii) basal diet plus enzyme blend (driselase-1®; cellulase, amylase and protease; 2 g kg-1 feed); (iii) basal diet with the addition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (dry yeast TR 100; 2 g kg-1 feed); (iv) basal diet with the addition of mixture of the enzymes blend and S. cerevisiae (1 g each kg-1 feed). All rabbits had ad-libitum access to clean drinking water and experimental diets, with 16 h light for seven-weeks. The results revealed that all additives improved (P < 0.05) weight gain (WG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) but did not alter feed intake than the control group. Although all additives increased (P < 0.05) neutral detergent fibre (NDF) digestibility, the dry matter digestibility (DMD) was increased (P < 0.05) only by the addition of enzymes blend. Furthermore, all additives increased (P < 0.05) carcass yield without any negative effects on meat physical (pH, water release and cooking loss) and chemical (moisture, protein, fat and ash) properties (P < 0.05). Moreover, villus height and crypt depth values were improved (P < 0.05) with the incorporation of additives. This study demonstrates that addition of enzymes blend and yeast-based additives alone or in combination in rabbit diet improved nutrients digestion and intestinal health, which subsequently improved their growth and carcass quality.

Mycotoxins are ubiquitous in the environment and occur naturally in human food and animal feed. Therefore, in this study the performance, haematobiochemical profiles, macroscopic and histopathological le sions in quails caused by ochratoxin (OTA) were examined. The OTA was obtained by culturing the spore of Asper gillus ochraceus. Sixty healthy male quails were selected and distributed into 12 replicates (5 quails per replicate) in a completely randomized block arrangement. Each experimental diet was assigned to 4 replicate groups. Quails in first group were fed on standard basal diet (CP 27%) without the addition of OTA (OTA-0; negative control), while in other groups OTA was incorporated in basal diet at 1 mg/kg (OTA-1) and 2 mg/kg (OTA-2) of basal diet, respectively. The feeding trial continued for 21 days experimental period. Clinical signs observed in OTA-fed birds were diarrhea, broken feathers, increased water intake, and depression. In addition, lower (p < 0.05) feed intake was reported in OTA-fed quails. Likewise, weight gain was reduced (p < 0.05) in OTA-fed groups. Gross lesions of hypertrophy, hem orrhages, paleness and friability were detected in the liver and kidney of OTA-treated birds. Microscopic examination of kidney and liver showed degeneration and sloughing of tubular epithelium in the kidney, narrowing of the lumen of kidney tubules, and hepatic fatty infiltration and necrosis of liver parenchyma. The serum Alanine transaminase, As partate transaminase, urea, and creatinine levels of OTA-fed birds were higher (p < 0.05) than OTA-0. However, serum total protein and albumin were lower (p < 0.05) in OTA-treated groups in a dose- dependent manner. Likely, red blood cell count, packed cell volume, and hemoglobin concentration were lower (p < 0.05) in OTA-treated groups. The results of this study indicate that OTA at ≥ 1 mg/kg feed is nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic, and cause hematobiochemical disorder in quails, which adversely affect their growth performance and may eventually lead to economic losses.