EFFECT OF DIETS CONTAINING SEA-GRASS (Cymodocea nodosa) AND TARO HAULMS (Colocasia esculenta) ON REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF NEW-ZEALAND FEMALE RABBITS UNDER NORTH SINAI CONDITIONS

Abstract

: A total number of 24 New-Zealand White ( NZW) doe rabbits aged 5- 6 months and weighed approximately ) 2.478 ± 0.14) kg was randomly divided into three groups (8/each). The 1 st group designated as the control (CON) was fed on the basal diet only. The 2 nd group (SGR) was fed the basal diet in which a 10% was replaced with Sea-grass (Cymodocea nodosa), and the 3 rd group (TAR) was fed the basal diet in which a 10% was replaced with 10% Taro haulms (Colocasia esculenta). The experiment continued for three litters. Results showed that rabbit does fed on sea-grass and taro haulms gave more alive kits per doe kindling compared with those fed the control diet. Weight of kits weaned per doe kindling was highest (P ≤ 0.05) in the sea-grass group (1.882 kg) followed by taro haulms group (1.760 kg), whereas the control group had the lowest mean (1.439 kg) in that respect. Litter weight from birth to of SGR those of the CON, whereas SGR and TAR did not differ (P > 0.05). Stillbirths were lower in the SGR and TAR groups compared with the CON. Feed intake of the SGR and TAR treatments was higher (P ≤ 0.05) than that of the CON treatment during both pregnancy and lactation periods. Moreover, results showed no significant differences among treatments in body weight changes of doe rabbits at different time periods of their reproductive cycle. Results also showed no significant differences among treatments in litter size, total milk yield and milk conversion rate. Digestion coefficients of DM, OM, CP, EE, CF and NFE did not differ significantly among treatments. Conclusively , feeding a diet containing 10% of Sea-grass (Cymodocea nodosa) or Taro waste (Colocasia esculenta) to New-Zealand White doe rabbits could improve their reproductive performance with no harmful effects compared with feeding the commercial control diet. It may be recommended to use these residues in the rations of rabbit does.