This study aimed to investigate effects of feeding growing rabbits on diets containing different forms of silage on their productive performance. A total of 80 New Zealand White (NZW) weaned rabbits (5 weeks old) was allotted into 5 nearly equal groups, 16 in each group 8 female and 8 male. Rabbits in the 1st group were fed on 100% concentrate feed mixture (CFM) and was served as control groups as compared to those fed different forms of silage (30%) including Portulaca oleracea + sugar beet tops (1:1) (P.O. + SBTS), sugar beet tops (SBTS) silage and dried whole Portulaca oleracea (DPO).
Results show that rabbit in all silage groups showed significantly (P<0.05) higher total DM intake than the control group. Digestibility coefficient of CP was higher for POS, PO + SBTS and SBTS groups than the control group. While, rabbit in DOP group was similar to the control group. The differences were significant (P<0.05) only between POS an each of DPO and control groups. Values of OM, CF and NFE digestion were significantly (P<0.05) the lowest in CTS as compared to the other groups. While digestion of EE was not affected significantly by dietary treatment. Rabbits in all groups showed insignificant differences in N-balance, being positive in all groups. Feeding rabbits on silage and dried PO diets did not affect total protein and there fraction in blood plasma. However, a significant (P<0.05) increase was recorded in globulin concentration. There were no significant differences in LBW and conversion of growing rabbits at all feeding intervals. The effect of dietary treatment on average daily gain (ADG) of rabbits was significant (P<0.05) only during the interval from 11-16 weeks of age, being the highest in SBTS group and the lowest in PO + SBTS group (15.15 and 12.99 g/day, respectively). Most carcass traits were not affected by dietary treatments. Content of DM in rabbit meat significantly (P<0.05) increased in all silage groups than the control group. However, contents of CP, EE and ash did not differ significantly in all silage groups than the control group. Rabbits fed PO silage or PO + SBTS diets lowered total feed costs as compared to the other silage and dried PO groups.
In conclusions, introducing 30% silage and dried whole Portulaca oleracea in diets resulted in increasing growth and economic feed efficiency of rabbits, being the highest for POS and PO+SBTS groups.