Abstract

Effect of Chemicals (minerals) on the Growth Performance of Rabbit

Author(s): Shrivastava AK, Tiwari KK, Mishra S and Jha RR

The rabbit farming is emerging as an important enterprise in India due to its high prolificacy, short generation intervals and better growth rate. The role of minerals like Ca2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Co2+ etc. in living organisms is an emerging area of strong interest for producers, feed manufacturers and scientists because trace elements unquestionably play an important role in Pathology and Physiology of biological system. The effect of minerals at different rates was studies in 18 apparently healthy weaned rabbits (6 week of age).At 6th week of age, 18 weaned rabbits were randomly divided into three groups. Group G1 was considered as control group maintained on basal diet without minerals. G2 and G3 groups were supplemented with 2% and 4% minerals respectively along with basal diet. The present results showed that the rabbits of G3 group had higher body weight than G2 and G1 groups during whole experimental period. At 12th week of age, the average body weight of the rabbit of G3 group (1629.00±57.09 g) maintained on 4% mineral mixture along with basal diet was observed to be significantly higher than the rabbits of G1 (1258.00 ± 76.20g) control group. However, G3 group did not differ significantly from that of G2 (1424.67 ± 87.30g) group. At the end of experiment (i.e. 13th week) the average body weight of the rabbit of G3 group (1713.00 ± 46.76g) was observed to be significantly higher than the rabbits of G2 (1481.33 ± 84.64g) and G1 (1296.67 ± 78.86g) groups. During 6-12th week of age, overall body weight gain of the rabbits of G3 (1000.67 ± 23.85g) group was observed to be significantly higher followed by G2 (789.67 ± 39.35g) and G1 (623.67 ± 48.93g) groups.At 13th week of age also similar pattern for overall body weight gain was observed. The weekly feed consumption of the rabbits of G3 group was observed to be higher followed by the rabbits of G1 and G2 groups during whole experimental period (i.e. 6-13th week).During 6-12th week of age, overall feed conversion efficiency in the rabbits of G3 group (3.71±0.52) was significantly better than the rabbits of G1 (5.27±0.24) group. However, G3 group did not differ significantly from G2 (4.22±0.43) group. At the end of experiment (i.e. 13th week), overall feed conversion efficiency was non-significantly better in the rabbits of G3 group (4.42±0.84) followed by G2 (5.34±1.19) and G1 (7.05±1.79) groups. The present findings indicated that the rabbit may be fed 4% mineral mixture containing Ca2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Co2+ etc. ions along with basal diet to boost up rabbit farming with proper growth and better feed conversion efficiency. Further, it is also suggested that the rabbits may be sold in the market at the age of 12th week for better return.