A total of 72 rabbits representing two genetic groups of V-line and crossbred of V-line x Saudi Gabel were used to evaluate dietary treatments containing discarded flesh dates for post-weaning growth performance (in terms of body weights and gains) and feed consumption and conversions, The basal diet (or the control treatment, T1) is the diet in which no date flesh was added. Discarded flesh dates were incorporated into two dietary treatments to replace partially the concentrates (corn and barley) and molasses by 15 % (T2) or 30% (T3) of the diet. The diet containing 30% flesh date lead to slightly increase of 6.6, 2.8, 3,3, 2.9, and 2.8 % in live body weights relative to the control diet at 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks of age, respectively. Feed conversion ratio at interval of 4- 12 weeks was significantly in favour of the control diet. Post-weaning body weights and gains of crossbred rabbits were higher than that of the V-line rabbits, while feed conversion ratios were in favour of V-line rabbits. Crossbred rabbits fed diet containing 30% flesh dates were consume more (59.6 g) and converse lesser (2.57:1) than crossbred rabbits fed the other two dietary treatments (86.4 g of feed consumed with conversion ratio of 2.48:1 in T1 and 84.7 g of feed consumed with conversion ratio of 2.49:1 in T2). V-line rabbits fed the control diet were consume lesser (107.5 g) and converse better (2.951) than V-line rabbits fed diet containing 15% or 30% discarded flesh dates (125,4 g of feed consumed with conversion ratio of 3.29:1 in:1-2; 112,1 g of feed consumed with conversion ratio of 3.04:1 in T3). In practice, diet supplemented by 30% flesh dates gave a positive effect on the relative revenue and was economically efficient higher by4i2% relative to the control diet.
|