The current study was carried out to investigate the effect of sliver nanoparticles (40 - 50 nm |) with Cotula cineria extract (CCE) on growing Rabbits Performance, Digestibility and Carcass quality. Total of 24 growing NewZealand white (NZW) rabbits of both sexes at 5 weeks of age (with average weight 857 ± 80.87g) were at random assigned to four equal groups, each group consists of 6 rabbits, in three replicates. . Rabbits in all experimental groups were fed the same basal diet. Rabbits in the 1st group (control) were fed the basal diet without treatment, while in the 2nd group were fed the basal diet treated with Extract at a dose of 250mg/rabbit/day, in the 3rdgroup were fed the basal diet treated with sliver nanoparticles at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight (BW) per day, the 4thgroup were fed the basal diet treated withsliver nanoparticles with Cotula cineria extract at a dose of 10mg / kg /day from sliver nanoparticles + 125 mg /rabbit /day from extract. Live body weight (LBW), digestibility coefficients (DC) and carcass traits were determined for up to 13 weeks of age. Results showed that Live body weight had significant effect (p<0.05) in 3rd ,5 th week and nosignificant effect in all experimental weeks. Live body weight gain had no significant effect (p<0.05) in all experimental weeks and TG and the best values were in group (CCE). Feed intake weekly had significant effect (p<0.05) in all weeks of experiment and TFI, the best values were in group (CCE) (1291.7) in 3rd week. No significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in FCR within experimental weeks except FCR5 the best value was in group (CCE) ( 2.25) in FCR1.About Carcass characteristics there was significant effect on Cecum length, Abdominal fat but differences in Live Body Weight, Cecum weight and Dressing %were not significant.
Apparent digestibility of OM, CP and NFE were significantly (p<0.05) and the best values were in group (SNPs) (74.66,73.85,80,03 respectively)may be due to the effect of silver Nano particles on intestinal microbial populations and improve the health and immunological status of the birds This can provide the birds with an opportunity to expend less metabolic effort for immunological control purposes and to use surplus nutrients for other physiological and productive purposes Ferket P; (2011), Furthermore, it is speculated that, as a carrier of available oxygen, silver nanoparticles could also be a potent modifier of metabolism. Silver nanoparticles and it is possible that the oxygen that accumulates in the octahedral holes of silver nanoparticles may increase anabolic activity and subsequently stimulate growth and development.
It is recommended to use sliver nanoparticles on growing rabbit diets, to improve performance, digestibility and carcass characteristics, Because of their unique biological properties and strong antimicrobial activity, silver nanoparticles have received considerable attention and been used widely in an increasing number of consumer and medical products.