الفهرس 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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Abstract
Three experiments were carried out at the Poultry Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University from December, 2013 to December, 2014. The aim of the study was to investigate the nutritional and functional properties of Moringa oleifera leaf meal(MOLM) on productive and reproductive performance of rabbits.
Experiment 1: Effect of feeding different levels of MOLM on performance of growing Newzeland (NZW) and California (CAL).
A total number of 72 weaning males and females NZW and CAL rabbits (36 each), Males and females rabbits were equally distributed into 3 treatments (12 males and females of each breed /treatment) according to the level of MOLM supplemented to pelleted basal diet (control, 0% MOLM).Dietary treatments were formulated as follows: Control (basal diet, 0% MOLM), T2: (basal diet + 3% MOLM) and T3: (basal diet + 6% MOLM). Criteria monitor were preformed including body weight, body weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, digestible value of nutrients, carcass characteristics, blood parameters and bacterial count.
Experiment 2:Influence of dietary supplementation of MOLM on reproductive performance and milk production of NZW does.
A total number of 30 does NZW (10 animals/treatment) at age 12 month were distributed equally into 3 treatments according to levels of MOLM supplementation to pelleted basal diet. Dietary treatments were as follows: Control (basal diet + 0% MOLM); T2:(basal diet + 4% MOLM) and T3: (basal diet + 8% MOLM).Litter size and weight of born pups were recorded at birth, 7, 14, 21day and at weaning time. Total litter gain (TG), daily litter gain (DG), Daily gain/kits (DGK), average total weight (g)/kits at weaning, feed consumption/doe and mortality at weaning (%) were recorded. Also, Milk production/doe and milk consumed /kits were calculated in grams at 5, 10,15,20,25 and 30day of age.
Experiment 3:Impact of dietary inclusion of MOLM on buck’s semen quality and their offspring post weaning performance for 4 weeks periods.
A total number of 30 NZW Bucks were equally distributed into 3 treatments (N=10) according to dietary levels of MOLM; Control (basal diet + 0% MOLM); T2:(basal diet + 4% MOLM) and T3: (basal diet + 8% MOLM).Semen volume, concentration, concentration/ejaculate, PH, motility and abnormality were assessed. The offspring Performance were evaluated; body weight, body weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio.
The results are summarized as follows
Experiment 1: Effect of feeding different levels of MOLM on performance of growing Newzeland (NZW) and California (CAL).
I. The performance of Newzeland rabbits
Body weight (BW).Results indicated that
1- Significant main effects (P<.01) due to sex, MOLM levels, months and weeks periods on BW were found. Female bunnies exhibited higher BW than male bunnies. Also, higher Significant treatment effect on BW (P<.01) was found in group fed 3% MOLM compared to the control group (0%) and those received 6% MOLM.
2- A significant interaction effect between treatments and periods was found indicating dominant effect of level 3% MOLM on BW.
3- Female NZW bunnies showed significant increase (P<.05) in BW more than the male towards approaching the age at 16 week due to the interaction between sex and periods(weeks or month).
4-The interaction between sex and treatments resulted in eliminating the differences between males and females bunnies in group fed 3% MOLM. The control group exhibited the poorest (P<.05) body weight in both sexes.
Body weight gain (BWG)
1- The results of BWG followed the same trend as recorded in BW data.
2- High significant effect (P<.01) was found due to interaction between treatments and weeks on BWG from weaning till termination of the trial.BWG in treatment (3%MOLM) maintained superiority in gaining weight however, treatment (6% MOLM) showed gradual decrease in BWG till 16 week-old then sharp decline resulted in the lowest BWG (P<.05) among treatment groups.
3- Differences in BWG of males NZW bunnies were noticed,when data was pooled into months periods instead of weeks as seen in BW data.
4- Female NZW bunnis treated with MOLM gained more BW than the control group at the fourth week of experimental trial. The results of Male NZW bunnies indicated better BWG in group fed 3% MOLM than the control group during fourth week of experimental trial, with no further variation towards the end of the experiment.
Feed consumption (FC)
1- Daily feed consumption was not affected by main effect of either sex or treatments. However, FC was influenced by periods (weeks or months). FC was gradually increased significantly (P<.01) as animal progressed in age to meet the requirement of increased growth rate.
2- Feed consumption was gradually increased as rabbits progressed in age with no differences between males and females.
3- Feed consumption data indicated that feeding bunnies on diet supplemented with MOLM at either 3 or 6% levels significantly stimulated appetite of bunnies and resulted in increased feed consumption more than the control group started from the fourth week of experimental diet and continued to six week thereafter, FC showed no differences among all groups.
Feed conversion ratio (FCR)
1- The main effect of sex showed infemales bunnies improvedFCR than male bunnies. The main effect of treatments showed that FCR improved in both 3 and 6% fed group MOLM compared to the control group (0%MOLM).However, pooling the data into months instead of weeks period resulted in no differences among groups.
2- Feed conversion ratio was significantly(P<.05) improved in female than males NZW bunnies only during month 3 and continued with last week periods (10-12weeks) due to the interaction between sex and periods.
3- Feed conversion ratio was improved in T2 (3% MOLM) during the periods from 8 to 10 weeks on treatment diet and continued thereafter, while those received T3 (6% MOLM) showed improved FCR (P<.05) at late stage of growth. These interactions were not detected when data was pooled into month periods.
4- The female NZW bunnies were more efficient in feed utilization than the males of the same breed and significant improved FCR (P<.05) were extended from 16–18 week-old.
II.The performance of California rabbits
Body weight (BW)
1- Body weight was significantly affected (P<.05) by main effect of sex and periods (weeks or months).Data of female California rabbits BW were higher (P<.05) than males. However, no treatment effect was detected.
2- The interaction effect between sex and treatment indicated that female California rabbits fed on 3% MOLM exhibited the highest body weight among treatments. Male rabbits fed on 6% MOLM started to compensate increase in BW similar to female rabbits on 6% MOLM treatment.
Body weight gain (BWG)
1- Body weight gain data showed same trend as BW. The BWG results were higher significantly(P<.05) in females than males. Also, BWG was highly affected due to main effect (P<.01) of periods (weeks ormonths).
2- The interaction effect between periods (weeks or months) and treatments prevailed that BWG was higher in group received 6% MOLM than the control (0%MOLM) but not different from those received 3%MOLM during first month or fourth weeks on experimental diet. However, bunnies showed higher BWG in 3% MOLM fed group than the control group during week 6 on experimental diet, and was not different from 6% MOLM fed group. No further effect was noticed due to treatments as animals progressed in age.
Feed consumption (FC)
1- Daily FC was highly affected due to main effect (P<.01) of periods (weeks or months) period from weaning till the end of the trial (18 week-old).
2- The interaction between MOLM level and periods (weeks or month) indicated that FC was significantly higher (P<.05) in rabbits received either 3 or 6% MOLM than the control group during (week2 – week6) on experimental diet.
3- No further interaction effect was detected.
Feed conversion ratio (FCR)
1- Feed conversion ratio results were significantly(P<.05) influenced by main effect of sex and periods (weeksor months).Female California rabbits were higher (P<.05) than males.
2- The best FCR results were recorded during early ages 2weeks of age on experimental diet till the week8,then a plateau FCR was recorded from week 10 till the end of the trial at 18 weeks.
3- The interaction effect between months and sex showed that FCR was better (P<.05) in females than males during the last month.No effect was detected between sex and week.
III. Digestibility trial
1- Results of DC nutrient, showed significant(P<.05) main effect due to treatment of feeding MOLM on: DEE, DCP, DCF and TDN. No significant difference were detecting due to breed or interaction between treatment and breed.
2- Rabbits received 3% MOLM had improved of DEE, DCP and TDN compared to the control group.However, these effects were not significantly different from those animals fed on 6% MOLM.
3- Rabbits fed on diet supplemented with 6% MOLM gave the best result of DCF of all treatments.
IV. Carcass measurements
1- The results of carcass measurements showed no main effect due to breed, MOLM level or their interactions. Same results were obtained regarding abdominal fat %.
2- Gastro intestinal tract (GIT) length was increased in rabbits fed diets contained both 3 and 6% of MOLM when compared to the control group by about 14.9% and 12.2%, respectively.
V. Bacterial count
1- The higher numerical total bacterial count was observed in NZW compared to California. Also, higher but not significant % of Lactobacillus was found in California rabbits.
2- Dietary inclusion of 3% MOLM showed significant increase (P<.05) in total bacterial count and Lactobacillus compared to the control group. Also, rabbits fed on 6% MOLM showed high numerical values of total bacterial and lactobacillus counts compared to the control rabbits but these values were not significant from either the control or 3% MOLM groups.
3- The interaction effect between treatments and breed indicated that significant (P<.05) higher total bacterial count in NZW in group received 3% MOLM likewise total lactobacillus count. However, in California rabbits higher total bacterial counts were found in group received 6% MOLM.While, no differences were found in lactobacillus counts among treatments.
VI. Blood parameter
1- The differences between breed and treatmentwere not significant intotal protein (TP), albumin (ALB) and globulin.
2- Newzeland rabbits showed lower blood TG compared to California rabbits.
Experiment 2: Influence of dietary supplementation of MOLM on reproductive performance and milk production of NZW does.
I. Reproductive performance
1- Daily FC during week 3was significantly lower in treatment 8%MOLM than the control and those received 4%MOLM.
2- Average litter size/doe/treatments at birth was not different. However, at weaning time was numerically but not significantly higher in group received 4% MOLM.
3- Litter weights were numerically higher but not significant in group received 4% MOLM.
4- Litter gains were not significant among treatments.
5- The lowest mortality rates (P<.05) were observed in group fed 4% MOLM followed by group fed 8%, while, the highest rate was recorded in the control group.
II. Milk production
1- Milk production/ does during the first 5 day interval was not different among treatments. At 10 day interval milk production was significantly higher in treatment 4%MOLM than 8%MOLM but was not different from the control group. At 15and 20 day interval milk production continued to be higher in group fed 4%MOLM than both the control and 8%MOLM group.
2- Daily and total milk production/doe were significantly higher in does fed 4%MOLM than control and 8% MOLM groups. No differences were found between control and those fed 8% MOLM.
3- Milk consumed/kit was significantly (P<.05) lower in 8%MOLM compared to group received 4%MOLMat first 5 day interval. However, the difference was not significantly different from the control group.
4- In general, daily and total milk consumed/kitwere significantly (P<.05) higher in both 4%MOLM and control compared to 8%MOLM group.
Experiment 3:Impact of dietary inclusion of MOLM on buck’s semen quality and their offspring post weaning performance for 4 weeks periods.
I. Semen quality
1- The total volume and sperm concentration were significantly (P<.05) higherin group fed 4%MOLM than 8%MOLM.But the differences between MOLM treatment groups were not significantly differentfrom the control group. Total volume wassignificantly higher(P<.05) during 2, 3 and 6 weeks of collection periods. Total concentration was significantly (P<.05) lowered after the first week.
2- Sperm concentration x107/ejaculate was affected(P<.05) by the interaction between MOLM levels and week collection periods (P<.05). Sperm concentration/ejaculate was superior in bucks received 4% MOLM among treatments even with lower concentration through progressing in week collection periods (P<.05).
3- The Motility was significantly (P<.05)higher in 4% MOLM than control but was not different from bucks received 8% MOLM.
4- Abnormality was not significantly observed among treatment.
II. Offspring performance
1- Sex main effect resulted in no difference between males and females on BW, BWG and FC.However, FCR was significantly improved in male bunnies (P<.05).
2- Treatments main effect resulted in improvement on BW and FCR in bunnies received 4%MOLM compared to the control. Bunnies fed on treatment 8% MOLM were not different from either the control or 4% MOLM fed group, regarding BW.
3- Feed consumption was lower (P<.05) in 8% MOLM fed group than the control but showed better FCR than the control.
4- The main effect of week periods from weaning till 4 weeks on experimental diet showed significant increased (P<.05) in BW, BWG and FC towards the end. However, FCR was decreased (P<.05)
5- The interaction between treatments, age and sex indicated better FCR in male than females and persistency towards the end (P<.05).
6- The mortality rate was decreased in 4% MOLM compared to 8% MOLM or the control.
General conclusion:Feeding NZW growing rabbits diet supplemented with 3% of MOLM would enhanced performance of male and females and sustained growth rate that may lead to good performance and promote welfare under Egypt environmental condition and that the interaction harmonically minimized depression in BW in male bunnies compared to the females’ ones during growing period. Feeding California female rabbits pelleted diet supplemented with 3%MOLM was palatable to rabbits and resulted in accelerated growth performance as indicated by BW, BWG and FCR over the control group. Prominently, feeding 6% MOLM to male California bunnies altered the growth rate performance to be equitable to faster growth rate of the females’ bunnies. Nevertheless, feeding 6% MOLM was suggested for male bunnies for fattening and before reaching sexual maturity. Feeding NZW doe’s diet supplemented with 4% MOLM resulted in better reproductive performance in NZW does. It is certain that doe’s milk yield was associated with preweaning growth rate and survival of young rabbits during the first 4 weeks of life. Therefore, it is suggested to rabbitry breeders to consider inclusion of MOLM in lactating does without any adverse effect to enhance reproductive performance. Also, MOLM is suggested to be incorporated at 4% without adverse effect for optimal reproductive efficiency and performance of male rabbits intended for breeding purpose and furthermore, for growing male to improve body weight at marketing age.