The purpose of the present study was to determine if individual organic acids
Lactlc(L). Acetic(A) and Citric (C) or mixture organic acids (LA, LC. AC and LAC)
supplementation to drinking water would have a beneficial effect on physiological and
productive performance of weaning rabbits. Seventy two weaned New-Zealand White
rabbits (NZW) at 6 week of age weighing an average of 660 g were divided into eight
groups ( 9 rabbits each). Rabbits of group (G1) received plain water. Rabbits of group < /p>
3.4 received water supplemented with 0.5 ml.l Litter (L). (A) or (C). Whereas, Rabbits
of group 5,6,7 and 3 received water supplemented with 0.5 mliLitter a total of a
combination of{L+A), (L+C), (A+C) and (L+A+C). The rabbit houses were made of
available local materials (mud, wood etc....). Rabbits were fed gg lipitgm on pelleted
ration contain 17.0% Crude protein .2530 kcal/kg Metabolizabfe energy (ME). 12.4%
Crude fiber. The study was continued during fattening period, from 6-12 weeks of age.
from April to June 2004. ‘
The results showed that lactic, acetic or. citric acids separately had no
significant effect on hematocrit values and hemoglobin concentrations. However. red
blood cells counts and white blood cells counts increased significantly compared to
the control groups. significant reduction was observed in blood pH, cecum pH and
Coli count compared to the controls. The total anaerobic bacteria decreased
significantly in G4 but no significant decrease was observed in G2 and (33. Marketing
body weight and body weight gain increased significantly compared to the controls.
However, feed conversion improved in the G2 and G4 only. Feed intake decreased in
G2 only.
Results indicated that groups received mixtures of organic acids (L+A).
L+C), (A+C) and (L+A+C) had slightly increased hematocrit in GS. GT and G8
compared to the control. Hemoglobin. red blood cells counts and white blood cells
counts were increased significantly in all combination groups. Significant reductions
were observed in blood pH, cecum pH, total anaerobic bacteria and E. cell counts in
all combination groups. Groups received combinations of organic acids in drinking
water had significantly increased marketing body weight and body weight gain, except
G6. compared to the controls. Feed conversion increased in G5 and G6 compared to
the control. Feed intake increased in all combination treated groups.
it was concluded that the significant use of citric acid significant or the use
combination of organic acids (L+A), (A+C) and (L+A+C) in drinking water of weanling
rabbits had beneficial effects throughout the growing period and improved
hematological parameters, cecum microflora and productive traits.