Effect of Chelated Copper, Selenium and Zinc on the Productive Performance of Growing V-Line Rabbits.

Abstract

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Chelated minerals have been shown to enhance animal performance and increase feed consumption, improving feed utilization. So, the present study aimed to determine the effect of adding each zinc at 50 mg, copper at 3 mg and selenium at 0.2 mg, all in chelated form, to the diets on growth performance, digestibility, meat quality, immune response, carcass traits, blood biochemical characteristics and economic efficiency of rabbits. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> In this experiment, 60 V-Line strain rabbits of mixed sex with an average body weight of 834 g were randomly and individually distributed into five experimental treatments (12 rabbits per treatment). The study included 5 groups, each comprising 12 rabbits. The first group (C) served as the control and received the basal diet without supplements. The second and third groups were given the basal diet supplemented with 50 mg zinc and 3 mg copper, respectively. The fourth group received the basal diet with 0.2 mg of selenium, while the fifth group was supplemented with a combination of zinc, copper and selenium. Data were analyzed using One-way ANOVA (GLM, SAS) and treatment means were compared by Duncan's test at p<0.05. <b>Results:</b> Rabbits fed diets supplemented with the tested mineral additives showed significant improvements in feed conversion ratio, final body weight and weight gain compared to the control group. These groups also exhibited higher nutrient digestibility, as indicated by dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE) and nitrogen-free extract (NFE). However, giblets yield (%) was significantly higher in the control group, whereas dressing percentage followed an opposite trend. Additionally, rabbits receiving mineral-supplemented diets demonstrated better economic efficiency than those on the control diet. <b>Conclusion:</b> That supplementing growing rabbit diets with zinc (50 mg), copper (3 mg) and selenium (0.2 mg) significantly enhanced body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, immune response and economic efficiency over an 8-week growing period. These trace elements act as effective growth promoters, likely due to their digestive-enhancing, antimicrobial and performance-boosting properties. The findings confirm that zinc, copper and selenium positively influence both productivity and economic outcomes in growing rabbits.