Growth Performance of Rabbits Fed Diets Containing Different Levels of Energy and Mixture of Some Medicinal Plants

A total number of 48 male growing New Zealand rabbits were used to study the effect of two different levels of ration energy supplemented with mixture of Lupinus albus L, Trigonella foenum-graecum L and Cassia senna L as feed additives. Rabbits were classified into four equal groups (G1-G4). The 1 and 3 groups received basal ration with 100 % and 90 % energy requirement and served as first and second control respectively. The 2 and the 4 groups received basal ration with 100 % and 90 % energy requirement supplemented with mixture at the level of 1.5 %, respectively. The results showed that decreasing energy requirements level by 10% in rabbit diets significantly (P<0.05) increased the digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, CP and NFE & DCP values. The 90% energy level insignificant increased (P>0.05) CF and EE digestibility coefficients and TDN value. The 90% energy requirement with 1.5 % additives mixture (G4) recorded the best digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, CP, CF, EE, NFE and nutritive values of TDN and DCP. The 90% energy level significantly (P<0.05) improved feed conversion (g intake /g gain) of DM, CP, DCP, TDN and DE, respectively compared to control. Adding mixture at 1.5 % level significantly (P<0.05) improved feed conversion (g intake /g gain) of DM, CP, DCP, TDN and DE, respectively compared to control. The 90% energy with 1.5% additives mixture (G4) recorded the best values of final body weight, body weight gain, and average daily gain as well as feed conversion. Additives mixture at 1.5% level significantly (P>0.05) increased the total inedible offal's (weight and % of SW) and Dm contents of the 9, 10 and 11 ribs. The 90% energy level with 1.5% additives mixture (G4) diet recorded the highest value of relative economic efficiency (145.1%) and the lowest value of feed cost/ kg live body weight (3.97 LE). It can be concluded that this mixture of medicinal plants can be considered as growth promoter that is effective for improving the utilization of low energy diet by lowering circulating glucose levels through enhancing insulin sensitivity.