The effect of weaning age on performance and nutrient digestibility of broiler rabbits

Abstract

AbstrAct:The effect of weaning age on growth, feed consumption, digestibility of nutrients, carcass yield, mortality and parasite incidence was studied in a balance experiment. Forty Hyplus ® rabbits proceeding from a commercial rabbitry were assigned to four groups of 10 rabbits according to weaning age at 25, 28, 31 and 35 days. The experimental diet had 17.03% crude protein, 4.66% fat and 18.30% crude fibre. Feed and water were available ad libitum. At the end of the experiment, at 84 days of age, six rabbits per group were slaughtered. In the experiment, most results of performance were not significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected by weaning age. Only the rabbits weaned at 25 days of age had higher live weight (P ≤ 0.05) at the age of 35 days (996, 986, 971 and 910 g, respectively), but at the end of the experiment we did not find any differences between groups. Higher digestibility of nutrients was recorded in the second collection period. In the first collection period the digestibility of nutrients was higher in rabbits weaned at 25 days of age in comparison with the other groups. No differences between groups in the digestibility of nutrients were observed in the second period. The age of weaning did not influence carcass characteristics. Dressing percentage was insignificantly higher in rabbits weaned at 25 and 35 days of age (53.11 and 53.07%, respectively) in comparison with rabbits weaned at 28 and 31 days of age (50.89 and 52.67%, respectively). There was no significant effect of weaning age on mortality. The incidence of Eimeria ssp. was the highest after weaning in rabbits at the age of 35 days.

The effect of substitution of soybean meal with a mixture of rapeseed meal, white lupin grain, and pea grain on performance indicators, nutrient digestibility, and nitrogen retention in Popielno White rabbits

“…On the other hand, they were similar to those obtained by Volek and Marounek (2009) Coefficients of CP digestibility were similar to those obtained in studies by Tůmová et al, (2003), Zita et al, (2007), LakabiIoualitene et al, (2008), and . A higher level of protein digestibility, exceeding 80%, was noted in studies by Strychalski, Juśkiewicz et al (2014) and Gugołek et al (2015) in groups of animals characterized by higher productivity.…”

“…Similar results were achieved by Daszkiewicz et al (2012) in New Zealand White Rabbits, in an extensively fed group. In turn, as regards typical rabbits bred for meat, the slaughter yield calculated using this method is usually higher, and exceeds 50% (Zita et al 2007;Volek & Marounek 2009;Gugołek et al 2011;Strychalski, Juśkiewicz et al 2014;Gugołek et al 2015).…”

Effect of Weaning Age on Growth and Slaughter Characteristics of Grasscutters (Thryonomisswinderianus) Raised Under Intensive Management in the Humid Tropics

“…Results of this study are similar to reports of Zita et al (2007) where they observed no significant (P>0.05) effect of weaning age and nutrient digestibility on the performance of broiler rabbits. Similarly, Xiccato et al (2000) did not also observe any significant influence of weaning age on the growth of rabbits, although Fortun-Lamothe et al (2002) had showed that early weaning provided higher viability and fastest growth in weaned rabbits.…”

“…Mortality has been reported to be affected by age at weaning (Zita et al, 2007). In this study, no mortality was recorded throughout the experimental period of fourteen weeks.…”

“…The results of feed conversion ratio explain the differences in body weights and weight gains resulting from feed intake. Results of this study on feed intake could be attributed to the early development of the digestive tract of grasscutters weaned at 2 weeks as feed consumption has been found to influence the development of the digestive tract, a point made by Zita et al (2007). Earlier studies have revealed that solid feed consumption led to early development of the digestive tract (Gallois et al, 2003).…”