Research Abstract
The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of different levels of palm kernel meal (PKM) in combination with an exogenous multi-enzyme preparation on growth performance, digestibility, carcass traits of growing rabbits. The feeding trial was carried out for eight weeks. Eighty New Zealand White rabbits (average BW 750±2.38 g; 6 weeks of age) were divided into eight groups of ten each. The dietary treatments included the incorporation of palm kernel meal at 0 (PKM0; control), 10 (PKM10), 20 (PKM20) and 30 (PKM30) per cent levels, with or without enzyme (Natuzyme®, 0.35 g/kg) to the basal diet. Results showed significant impacts of PKM, enzyme and their interactions on all performance and carcass traits and relative organ weights. The growth performance and nutrients digestibility were significantly (P<0.001) affected with 20 and 30 per cent levels of PKM inclusion but with significantly (P<0.001) increased feed intake when compared to PKM0 (control) and PKM10 groups. The carcass characteristics and per cent organ weights were reduced in PKM30 compared to the other three groups. However, enzyme supplementation significantly (P<0.001) reduced feed intake, improved nutrients digestibility and carcass traits irrespective of the inclusion level of PKM. There was a significant interaction (P<0.05) between PKM level and enzyme supplementation for the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass traits parameters. The inclusion of PKM at 10 and 20 per cent in the basal diet enhanced (P<0.05) crude fat digestibility. It is concluded that palm kernel meal can be included safely up to 20% level in combination with exogenous enzymes supplementation in rabbit diets as a source of fibre without any adverse effect on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass traits.
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Research Authors
Al-Sultan S.I., Abdel-Raheem S.M., Sayed A.N.
Research Date
Tue, 19 Oct 2021 - 12:00
Research Journal
Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology
Research Publisher
https://indianjournals.com/
Research Website
DOI: 10.5958/0974-181X.2021.00028.7
