A total number of eighty four New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits 5 weeks
of age and 608 + 7.56 g average live body weight were allotted at random to
seven similar experimental groups (of 12 rabbits each). Each group of rabbits
was fed one of seven experimental pelleted diets (17% crude protein and 12-
13% crude fiber on average). The feeding trail extended for 9 weeks. The aim of
the study was to investigate the effects of partial substitution (25 or 50%) of
soybean meal of control diet with different agro-industrial by-products as the
sources for plant protein; rocket (RSM), fenugreek (FSM) and mustard seed
meals (MSM) on growth performance, nutrients digestibility, blood
constitutions, carcass characteristics and economic efficiency. Results indicated
that, digestion coefficients of most nutrients and the nutritive values were
significantly (P<0.05) improved in the groups fed 25 or 50% RSM and FSMdiet
as compared to the control. The values of TDN increased by (4.85 and
4.52%) for RSM, (4.44 and 4.43%) for FSM and (1.80%) for 50% MSM. The
DCP improvement was (9.13 and 2.04%) for RSM, (2.44 and 7.25%) for FSM,
respectively. Replacing RSM, FSM or MSM by 25 or 50% in rabbit diets grew
(9.85 and 4.58%) for RSM, (3.36 and 7.56%) for FSM and (1.23%) for 25%
MSM faster than control. The diets containing 25 and 50% agro-industrial byproducts
showed better (P<0.05) values of feed conversion than the control diet.
Serum total protein, albumin, globulin and urea-N were significantly (P<0.05)
affected by different treatments; while, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT),
cholesterol and total lipids were not affected. Hot carcass weight and dressing
percentages were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the 25 and 50% RSM, FSM
or 25% MSM groups than those of the control and 50% MSM groups.
Economical efficiency values of rabbits fed diets contained agro-industrial byproducts
at marketing age (13 weeks) were higher than those of the control diet.
It could be concluded that substitution of rocket, fenugreek and
mustard seed meals up to 50% of soybean meal in the diet of NZW
rabbits had good results without adverse effects on growth performance.