A factorial design was conducted to evaluate the effect of live dried yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) (SC) and sodium butyrate (SB) on growth and physiological performance of growing New Zealand White )NZW(
rabbits.
Sixty weaned rabbits were specified indiscriminate into six equal groups were fed for eight weeks. All trail groups were fed a uniform rabbit's pelleted diet, (1) basal diet control, (2) basal diet plus 0.3 g sodium butyrate (SB), (3) basal diet plus 0.5g SB, (4) basal diet plus 0.1% Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC), (5) basal diet plus 0.1g SC plus 0.3g SB and (6) basal diet plus 0.1g SC plus 0.5g SB. Data of growth performance, pH, ammonia-N (NH3-N) and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production of cecal content, digestibility and nutritive value, nitrogen balance and blood biochemical were analyzed in 2×3 factorial design.
The results revealed that feed additives as SC and SB used alone improved significantly body weight (BW) and body weight gain (BWG) as compared to the control group. Addition the basal diet with 0.1 SC revealed (P<0.05) improved in feed conversion ratio (FCR). Cecum pH did not (P>0.05) effect by SC and SB or their mix supplementation. Using mixture of SC and SB or alone gave a positive results on the volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration vs control group. The opposite trend was noted in NH3-N concentration, which was (P<0.05) decreased related to control one. Rabbits fed diets containing 0.1 SC caused (P<0.05) to improve in dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF) and Nitrogen free extract) NFE (digestibility and nutritive value of DCP. Growing rabbits fed SB at 0.3 and 0.5g / Kg diet (P<0.05) increased the CP digestibility, nutritive value of DCP. Addition SC in rabbits diets initiated observable increased (P<0.01) in serum total protein (TP) and Glob vs control. Also, lipid profile as Cholesterol (CHO), TG low and High density lipoprotein (HDL) was decrease (P<0.01) vs control. Also, 0.5g SB
initiated observable increased (P<0.01) in TP vs 0.3 SB and control. CHO, TG and HDL was decrease (P<0.01) vs control. All These results proved that weaning rabbits fed diets have mixed probiotics culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and sodium butyrate improved productive performance and economic efficiency.