INFLUENCE OF FEEDING PROBIOTICS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY IN RABBITS.

Abstract

During a 84 days trial, growth performance and nutrient utilisation were studied on 33 New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits (initial age 42 ± 3 days and average body weight 633 ± 21g), divided into three groups of 11 animals each. AII the rabbits were given a common pelleted ration. Animals of group 2 were provided a supplemental daily dose of lactic acid producing bacteria (Lacto) 5x10 8 cells/animal and group 3 received a mixed with equal quantity dose 5x10 8 cells/animal/day of lactic acid bacteria and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Lacto+ Sacc). There were no differences in feed intake, body weight gain (average 8.1g/day), feed conversion efficiency (average 4. 71 g feed intake/g gain) and digestibility of dry matter, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, cellulose and hemicellulose among the groups. Only crude protein digestibility was significantly improved (P<0.05) in the animals given mixed culture (Lacto+ Sacc).