Supplemental value of avizyme in diets of rabbits containing graded levels of wheat offal

Abstract

Growth performance, nutrient retention and hematological parameters of rabbits fed graded levels of wheat offal supplemented with Avizyme were studied. A total of 24, 9-week old New Zealand rabbits were fed for 49 days (7 weeks) on four experimental diets. Avizyme was added at the rate of 1 g kg-1 of wheat offal based diets containing 30, 40 and 50% of the wheat offal. The basal diet (without Avizyme supplementation) served as the control treatment. The results of the study indicated significant differences (p<0.05) between rabbits on the various treatments for weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Weight gain decreased significantly (p<0.05) when dietary levels of wheat offal increased beyond 30% even with enzyme treatment. Avizyme supplementation to high wheat offal diet significantly decreased (p<0.05) dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber and ether extract digestibility. Rabbits on the control diet, had the highest value of apparent nutrient retention. Avizyme supplementation however, improved the hematological parameters significantly; PCV, Hb, RBC and MCV rose significantly (p<0.05) as the level of wheat offal increased in the diet.

Keywords: Rabbits, Avizyme, wheat offal, enzyme supplementation, feed