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Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of using pomegranate by-product powder (PBP) at levels 1.0, 1.5, 2.0% and its extract (PBE) at levels 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg diet as natural growth promoters in rabbit diets on growth performance. A total of 63 unsexed New Zealand White rabbits were randomly assigned to seven groups containing 9 rabbits each in 3 replicates and raised from 5 to 13 weeks of age. The obtained results indicated that the pomegranate by-product powder was rich in total phenolic compounds and total flavonoids compounds. Rabbits group fed diet supplemented with either PBP or PBE at each tested level at 13th week recorded higher (P<0.05) average live body weight than the control group. At the whole period (from 6 to 13 weeks old) there were significant differences (P<0.05) in average daily weight gain between the rabbits group fed the control diet and all experimental groups. Rabbits fed diets supplemented with 150 mg PBE/kg diet recorded lowest (P<0.05) average daily feed intake, while rabbits group fed 1.0% PBP diet recorded the highest values compared to other experimental tested groups. The results showed that rabbits fed dietary 150 and 100 mg PBE recorded the best FCR ratio while the control group recorded the worst value. Rabbit groups fed diets supplemented with either PBP or PBE recorded significantly (P<0.05) higher digestibility of DM, OM and CF compared to the control group. While rabbit groups fed diets supplemented with1.5 and 2.0% PBP or 100, 150 and 200 mg PBE achieved higher (P<0.05) CP digestibility. Significant increases (P<0.05) in DCP and TDN were noticed with supplementation of PBE at 100, 150 and 200 mg in rabbit diets. Supplementation of PBP and PBE increased (P<0.05) the nitrogen balance% compared to the control diet. Rabbits group fed diet supplemented with 150 mg PBE had higher (P<0.05) carcass weight. Data showed that 200 mg PBE level recorded higher (P<0.05) meat CP content (22.04 vs. 23.79%). Rabbit groups fed either PBP diets (1.0, 1.5 and 2.0%) or PBE (100, 150 and 200 mg) had lower meat EE content the control group. The plasma content of total lipids, triglycerides and total cholesterol was observed to move down constant with increasing dietary levels of PBP or PBE. The control group was the lowest (P<0.05) in plasma HDL level. Rabbit groups fed diets supplemented with 2.0% PBP or 100, 150 and 200 mg PBE recorded higher (P<0.05) concentration of plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Highest economic efficiency was achieved by rabbit groups fed diet supplemented with 150, 100 mg PBE and 1.5% PBP followed in a descending order by groups fed 2.0% PBP, 200 mg PBE and 1.0% PBP. Conclusively, supplementation of pomegranate by-products powder and its extract specially 150, 100 mg PBE and 1.5% PBP as growth promoters to rabbit diets achieved the best economic efficiency due to the improvement of rabbit’s performance and their health