Biochemical and Physiological Changes in Growing Rabbits Fed Different Sources of Crude Fiber

Crude fibers (CF) take a special place in the growing rabbit`s nutrition. In depend on their origin and composition, CF have digestibility 1725% in the roughages and up to 40-50% in the green and concentrate feeds. They are very important in the regulation of the processes of both digestibility and bacterial synthesis. The optimal CF quantity for growing rabbits is 12-15%. Alfalfa hay is preferred source of CF for rabbits, but it is too expensive. But, there are other sources of CF which are more suitable because of their price are lower. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of different sources of CF in the mixed rations for rabbits on blood biochemical changes, Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA) production in the ceacum and some fermentative parameters. In this respect we have interest to study the next sources of crude fibers: dry distillers` grain of wheat (DDGSw), produced by Bulgarian firm as a source except for crude fiber 13% and crude protein (CP) also – 32%; meadow hay and as well as wheat straw as main and chipper sources of CF in the growing rabbits diets. Three compound feeds were prepared. All compound feeds contained 20% oats, 15% barley, 16.40%wheat bran, 10% soybean meal, 5% sunflower meal. The main sources of CF for the diets were: 30% Alfalfa hay (control group); 10% DDGSw + 20% meadow hay (Experimental group I, EG I) and 15% DDGSw + 15% wheat straw (Experimental group II, EG II). The obtained results showed that there were no any incidences of digestive disorders in all investigated groups. Improvement of cecal fermentation led to better NGR and FOM. We made conclusion that DDGSw in combine with meadow hay or wheat straw could use as alternative sources of CF for growing rabbits.