THE BENEFICIAL IMPACTS OF ADDING EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL ON GROWING RABBITS DURING THE HOT SUMMER SEASON OF EGYPT.

Abstract

: Ninety six growing rabbits at 6 weeks of age with an average initial body weight of 655.15 ± 5.92, g were randomly divided into four equal groups, 24 rabbits per each group (6 replicates in each group). The first group received a basal diet without extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and served as a control. The other three groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6% EVOO /kg diet groups, respectively. The traits studied were growth performance, blood biochemical constituents, carcass, and digestion and economic efficiency of the growing rabbits under hot summer season of Egypt. The present results showed that the final body weight (FBW) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were enhanced significantly (P≤0.05) by 10.96 % and 9.40 % respectively, in the group fed diet supplemented with 0.6% extra virgin olive oil 0.6% EVOO as compared with the control group. Hot carcass weight, dressing, and total non-carcass fat (%) were significantly (P≤0.05) improved for growing rabbits fed diets supplemented with