Influence of Jojoba Meal Treated with Lactobacillus acidophilus on Digestibility, Carcass Traits and Blood Metabolites in Growing Rabbits# El-Adawy M.M., Abou-Zeid A.E.1, Camacho L.M.2, Salem A.Z.M.3,*, Cerrillo-Soto M.A.4, El-Rayes T.1 Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Egypt 1Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Egypt 2Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia. Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero. Ciudad Altamirano, Gro. CP-40660, México 3Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, Edo de Mex, CP- 50200, México 4Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Durango, Dgo, 34280, México *Corresponding author: asalem70@yahoo.com
#This paper is part of the special issue entitled: Exogenous Enzymes in Animal Nutrition - Benefits and Limitations, Guest Edited by A.Z.M. Salem and N. Odongo, and Editor for Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, A.K. Pattanaik Online published on 4 January, 2014. Abstract The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of substitution of soybean meal protein by L. acidophilus treated jojoba meal (JM) protein in rabbit's diets on digestibility of nutrients, N balance, caecotrophy, some blood metabolites and carcass traits. Thirty two 5-weeks-old rabbits were divided into four equal experimental groups, 8 rabbits of each in a complete random design. Soybean meal protein was partially replaced by treated JM protein at 0, 10, 20 and 30% to formulate the experimental diets. Feeding treated JM increased (P<0.05) of all nutrient digestibility except ether extract, accordingly nutritive values expressed as total digestible nutrients and digestible crude protein were improved (P<0.01) for diet contained 30% treated JM protein. N balance (g/day) was increased (P<0.05) in rabbits fed diet with 30% treated JM protein versus control. Incorporation of treated JM at 30% in the rabbit's diets increased (P<0.05) daily soft faces excretion, whereas crude protein the proportion of soft faces to total crude protein intake was higher (P<0.05). Plasma total protein, transaminases activity (GOT and GPT), glucose, creatinine and urea concentrations did not differ in JM supplementation diets versus control. Cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations decreased (P<0.05) with the substitution of JM protein in diets from 0 to 30%. Dressing percentage of the rabbit fed 30% treated JM protein was increased (P<0.01) by 5.1% compared to control diet. Supplementation of JM protein at 30% in rabbit's diets could increase nutrient digestibility, carcass traits quality and improve animal health. Top Keywords Carcass traits, Digestibility, Jojoba meal, Lactobacillus, Rabbits. Top |