The effect of weaning age on performance and nutrient digestibility of broiler rabbits
2007
Zita, L.,Ceska Zemedelska Univ., Prague (Czech Republic). Katedra Specialni Zootechniky | Tumova, E.,Ceska Zemedelska Univ., Prague (Czech Republic). Katedra Specialni Zootechniky | Skrivanova, V.,Vyzkumny Ustav Zivocisne Vyroby, Prague (Czech Republic) | Ledvinka, Z.,Ceska Zemedelska Univ., Prague (Czech Republic). Katedra Specialni Zootechniky
The effect of weaning age on growth, feed consumption, digestibility of nutrients, carcass yield, mortality and parasite incidence in broiler rabbits was studied in a balance experiment. Forty Hyplus rabbits from a commercial rabbitry were assigned to four groups of 10 rabbits according to weaning age at 25, 28, 31 and 35 days. The experimental diet contained 17.03% crude protein, 4.66% fat and 18.30% crude fibre. Feed and water were available ad libitum. Six rabbits per group were slaughtered at 84 days of age. Most of the studied variables were not significantly affected by weaning age. Only the rabbits weaned at 25 days of age had significantly higher live weight at the age of 35 days (996, 986, 971 and 910 g, respectively). Higher digestibility of nutrients was recorded in the second collection period. In the first collection period the digestibility of nutrients was higher in rabbits weaned at 25 days of age in comparison with the other groups. No differences between groups in the digestibility of nutrients were observed in the second period. The age of weaning influenced neither carcass characteristics nor the mortality. The incidence of Eimeria ssp. was the highest in rabbits weaned at the age of 35 days.
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