Performance of Rabbits Fed Diets Containing Different Levels of Energy and Lesser Galangal (Alpinia Officinarum)

This work aimed to study the effect of two different levels of ration energy supplemented with Alpinia officinarum. Rabbits were classified into six equal groups (G1-G6). The 1 and 4 groups received basal ration with 100 % and 90 % energy requirement and served as first and second control respectively. The 2 and the 3 groups received basal ration with 100 % energy requirement supplemented with Alpinia officinarum at the level of 0.5 and 1.0 %, respectively. The 5 and 6 groups received basal ration with 90 % energy requirement with Alpinia officinarum at the level of 0.5 and 1.0 %, respectively. The 90% energy containing diet showed significant increased (P<0.05) in DM and CF digestibility, while EE digestibility was significantly (P<0.05) decreased. Lesser galangal as feed additives showed significant (P<0.05) increased in DM, OM, CF, NFE digestibility and TDN value. There were significant interaction values between energy and supplementation levels on digestibility coefficient of DM, OM, CF, EE, NFE and TDN value. Supplementation of Lesser galangal at 0.5 % or 1% significantly increased final body weight gain, ADG, feed conversion, while slightly decreased feed intake. The 90% energy and 1% lesser galangal (G6) recorded the best values of final body weight, body daily weight gain and feed conversion. The interaction values between energy and lesser galangal levels significantly increased (P<0.05) the carcass weight, dressing percentages and carcass cuts. The 90% energy and 1% lesser galangal (G6) recorded the best values of carcass weight, dressing percentages and carcass cuts. Lesser galangal significantly (P<0.05) decreased the lungs (weight and % of SW); content of stomach and empty of small intestine (weight and % of SW). The interaction values between energy and lesser galangal levels significantly (P<0.05) increased the liver and total internal offal's (% of SW); lungs, full and content of stomach as well as digestive tract content (weight, g and % of SW). Dietary 90% energy requirements with 0.5 % or 1% lesser galangal showed the high values of net revenue, economical efficiency and relative economic efficiency, while recorded the low value of feed cost/ kg live body www.ccsenet.org/jas Journal of Agricultural Science Vol. 3, No. 4; December 2011 ISSN 1916-9752 E-ISSN 1916-9760 242 weight (LE). Rabbits received the 90 % energy requirement with 0.5 % lesser galangal recorded the highest value of relative economic efficiency (111.4%) and the lowest value of feed cost/ kg live body weight (5.45 LE).