EFFECT OF USING SOME SEA-GRASS (Cymodocea nodosa) AND VEGETABLE CROP RESIDUES AS UNTRADITIONAL FEEDS IN GROWING RABBITS DIET ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE UNDER NORTH SINAI CONDITIONS.

The aimed of this study to evaluate effects of sea-grass (Cymodocea nodosa), taro (Colocasia esculenta) haulms and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) haulms as untraditional feeds on growth performance, nutrients digestibility, carcass traits and some blood parameters as well as economic efficiency of growing rabbits. Thirty two weaned New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits aged 6 wk and weighted 891.89 ± 53.2 g were randomly allotted into four groups (8 rabbits in each). The 1st group sarved as the control (CON) and fed on the basal diet. The 2nd group (SGR), the 3rd group (TAR) and the 4th group (TOM) were fed the basal diet containing 10% in each of sea-grass (Cymodocea nodosa), taro (Colocasia esculenta) haulms and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) haulms, respectively during the experimental period (7 wk). Results revealed that the experimental diets did not significantly affect live body weight (LBW) at the end of the experiment. Total and daily gain were higher significantly (P<0.05) in TOM group than TAR group. Total and daily feed intake were highest significantly (P<0.05) in rabbits of SGR group as compared to TAR group. Feed conversion efficiency did not differ significantly among treatment groups. All nutrient digestibilities and nutritive values of experimental diets did not affected significantly as compared with control diet. Hot carcass weight and organ weights did not differ significantly among treatment groups, except the kidney weight was lower (P<0.05) in the control group when compared to SGR group. Chemical analysis of hind leg meat releved that protein (%) in TOM group was higher (P<0.05) than those of TAR and CON groups. Whereas, fat (%) was higher (P<0.05)in TOM group as compared to SGR and CON groups and similar to TAR group. However, ash (%) did not differ significantly among treatment groups. Serum total protein, albumin, globulin, urea nitrogen and total cholosteral were insignificantly among treatment groups. Creatinine was decreased (P<0.05) in SGR group compared with the other treatment groups . AST enzyme in the serum of rabbits was increased (P<0.05) when fed on TAR diet compared with those fed on the other diets. ALT enzyme was higher (P<0.05) in SGR group than TOM group and similar to the other groups. Serum glucose was reduced (P<0.05) due to feeding on SGR or TAR diet compared with the control diet. Triglycerides was higher (P<0.05) in TOM group than SGR group and similar to the other groups. Economic efficiency (E.E) and relative E. E (%) were highest in TOM group followed by SGR group. Conclusively, it could be concluded that feeding growing rabbits on diets conaining 10% sea grass, taro and tomato haulms without detrimental effects on productive performance, health status and economic efficiency.