The Effects of Dietary Inclusion of Different Levels of Flaxseed on the Digestibility, Growth Performance, Blood Parameters and Fatty Acid Profile in Growing New-Zealand White (Nzw) Rabbits

Abstract

total number of 60 male New-Zealand White (NZW) rabbits post-weaning was used to study the effect of the inclusion of three levels (4, 6 and 8%) of flaxseed (FS) in the rabbit diet on nutrients digestibility, growth performance, blood parameters and fatty acid profile. Rabbits were distributed among 4 equal groups (3 replicates, 5 rabbits each). The1 st group received the basal diet without FS. The other three groups (2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th ) received the basal diet with FS at levels 4, 6 and 8%, respectively. Rabbits were fed experimental diets for 8 weeks. Feeding diet contains FS at 6% level significantly (P<0.05) decreased the digestion coefficients as DM and OM compared to the control group while, feeding FS at the 8% level significantly decreased the digestion coefficients of DM, OM, CF and NFE compared to the control group. Feeding FS at the 6 or 8% level in rabbits significantly decreased the daily feed intake compared to the control group. Feeding flaxseed at the three levels 4, 6 and 8% in rabbits significantly (P<0.05) decreased the long dorsal fat and pre-renal fat weight compared to the control group. Feeding the experimental diets contain flaxseed at different levels (4, 6 and 8 %) significantly (P<0.05) decreased triglycerides, total cholesterol and total alkaline phosphatase compared to those of the control group. Feeding diets contain flaxseed at the level 6 and 8% in rabbit rations significantly (P<0.05) increased the αlinolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and palmitic acid levels as well as reduced the arachidonic acid. Comparing these results to the literature, it was found that inclusion of dietary flaxseed at 6 and 8% of total ration considered high levels which significantly improved the blood parameters and profile fatty acids meanwhile a slightly decreased the growth performances and digestibility. Our suggestion under these circumstances is to use the lower level of 4% in rabbit feeding, flaxseeds are used to increase the diet content in omega-3 fatty acids, mostly alpha-linolenic acid.