Amino acid requirements of growing rabbits in hot climates. 1. Prediction of quantitative needs
1999
Abou-Ela, S.S. | El-Hindawy, M.M. | Sulkamy, M.T. | Khalil, F.S. (National Research Center, Cairo (Egypt))
Ninety NZW rabbits of both sexes, weaned at 5 weeks, of age were fed on nine completely pelleted isocaloric diets (2700 Kcal/K1) using 0.420, 0.0525 and 0.630 per cent dietary Sulphur amino acids (SAA) at 14 per cent crude protein (CP), 0.480, 0.600 and 0.720 per cent SAA at 16 per cent CP and 0.540, 0.675 and 0.810 SAA at 18 per cent CP respectively during the growing period (5-11 weeks of age). This work was designed to investigate the optimal levels of SAA for growing NZW rabbits in hot climates under different CP per cent levels. Growth and feed intake were measured over 6 weeks. Carcass characteristics and economic evaluation were also carried out at the termination of the study. Twelve regression equations were drawn for the prediction of the maximal response to 3 dietary protein levels and 9 levels of SAA in the tested diets in case of body weight (BW) and sixteen equations were also obtained in case of feed conversion (FC). Results indicated that BW at 7, 9 and 11 weeks were affected significantly (P less than 0.01 y P less than 0.05) by levels of dietary CP and SAA. Body weight values of NZW rabbits at these periods were higher in high protein groups (18 per cent CP) than those at lower ones (16 & 14 per cent CP). The maximal requirements of dietary SAA for growing NZW rabbits was 0.600 per cent at 16 per cent CP. It is worthly noting that increasing dietary SAA content above 0.60 per cent did not cause any further significant increase in body weight.
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