El-Moghazy, M., El-Fadaly, H., Khalifa, E., Mohamed, M. (2019). Effect of Dietary Zinc-Methionine on Growth, Carcass Traits, Antioxidants and Immunity of Growing Rabbits. Journal of Animal and Poultry Production, 10(3), 59-66. doi: 10.21608/jappmu.2019.40358
M. . M.1 El-Moghazy; H. A. El-Fadaly; E. I. Khalifa; M. A. Mohamed. "Effect of Dietary Zinc-Methionine on Growth, Carcass Traits, Antioxidants and Immunity of Growing Rabbits". Journal of Animal and Poultry Production, 10, 3, 2019, 59-66. doi: 10.21608/jappmu.2019.40358
El-Moghazy, M., El-Fadaly, H., Khalifa, E., Mohamed, M. (2019). 'Effect of Dietary Zinc-Methionine on Growth, Carcass Traits, Antioxidants and Immunity of Growing Rabbits', Journal of Animal and Poultry Production, 10(3), pp. 59-66. doi: 10.21608/jappmu.2019.40358
El-Moghazy, M., El-Fadaly, H., Khalifa, E., Mohamed, M. Effect of Dietary Zinc-Methionine on Growth, Carcass Traits, Antioxidants and Immunity of Growing Rabbits. Journal of Animal and Poultry Production, 2019; 10(3): 59-66. doi: 10.21608/jappmu.2019.40358
Effect of Dietary Zinc-Methionine on Growth, Carcass Traits, Antioxidants and Immunity of Growing Rabbits
1Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Dameitta University, Dameitta, Egypt
2Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Dameitta University, Dameitta, Egypt
3Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt.
Abstract
Effect of dietary zinc-methionine (Zn-Me), on growth performance, carcass characteristics, anti-oxidant status, immunity, liver and kidney functions of NZW growing rabbits was studied. Total of 80 rabbits were assigned into 4 groups fed basal diet with 0 (G1), 50 (G2), 100 (G3) and 150 (G4) mg of Zn-Me/kg diet, respectively. The average of body weight, weight gain, daily feed intake and feed conversion, performance index and viability rate were recorded at age intervals from 5 to 13 wk. The carcass characteristics, hematological and biochemicals, anti-oxidant and Immunoglobulins in serum were determined at the termination of the experimental period (13 wk). Results revealed that Zn-Me (100mg/kg diet) addition increased (P<0.05) growth performance (body weight of rabbits at 9 and 13 wk of age, and daily gain of rabbits at 5~13 wk of age interval), hemoglobin, red blood cells, platelets and hematocrit, and neutrophils and eosinophils, serum total proteins, glucose, total anti-oxidant capacity, glutathione reduced ,glutathione S-transferase and superoxide dismutase, and immunoglobulins concentrations. The count of blood cells and lymphocytes, monocytes and acidophils percentages, and triglycerides, creatinine, urea concentrations, and enzyme activity and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances concentration decreased (P<0.05) as affected by Zn-Me (100mg/kg diet). The carcass net weight, dressing percentages (based on carcass net carcass weight or plus edible organs), and spleen and heart weight percentages were (P<0.05) the highest in G3 compared with other groups. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with zinc-methionine (100 mg/kg diet) can improve growth performance, lipid profile, immunity and anti-oxidant status, without adversely effects on kidney and liver functions of growing rabbits.