الفهرس 
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Abstract
The present study was conducted at a private rabbits farm in Dakahlia province during the period from January to March 2002. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of replacing concentrate feed mixture protein (CFMprotein) by Nigella sativa meal protein (NSMprotein) at a rate of 25 and 50% in practically three isonitorgenous and isocaloric pelleted mixed diets on the performance of NewZealand White (NZW) growing rabbits. Fortyfive male rabbits weaned at 42 days were used and allotted randomly into three groups 15 animals of each. The initial average live body weights values were 855, 867 and 860 g for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd groups, respectively. The parameters studied were growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics, some blood parameters, some histological studies and economical efficiency. Results obtained could be summarized as follows: (1)? The results of the chemical composition of tested diets indicate that, they were, practically similar in most nutrients content as well as calculated gross energy (MJ/kg DM). (2) Live body weight and daily gain were increased significantly by increasing the level of NSM in the tested diets at the end of marketing age (13 weeks), but the feed intake was significantly decreased at the end of marketing age. (3) Feed conversion values (FC) showed that rabbits fed diet containing 50% NSMProtein had significantly (P<0.05) the best feed conversion (lowest value) (4.4) compared with the other two experimental groups (5) for control group and (4.9) for 2nd group. (4) The increase of NSM level in the diets led to reduce the mortality rate. No mortality could be observed in rabbits fed diets which containing 50% NSMprotein during the experimental period. (5) Increasing the level of NSM in the diets had decreased all digestibility coefficient values (DM, OM, CP, CF and NFE). However EE digestibility was significantly increased. (6) Increasing the level of NSMprotein in the experimental diets had no significant effect on carcass characteristics except that of abdominal fat and kidneys weight. The chemical composition of meat was not affected by using NSM in the diets of growing rabbits. (7) Blood analysis showed that plasma total proteins, albumin, globulin and HDL were significantly increased (P<0.01) with increasing level of NSM in the diets. NSM diets decreased significantly (P<0.01) plasma cholesterol, total lipids and triglycerides. The key metabolic enzymes AST and ALT exhibited significantly higher (P<0.01) in NSM diets. (8) The results of the histological structure of the studied organs in growing rabbits showed that, NSM had beneficial effects on the development of adrenal gland, liver and kidney. Also, the NSM had an improvement of testes during the growing stage. (9) Highest net revenue was observed for rabbits fed control diet, but the diet containing 25 and 50% NSMprotein achieved the best of both economical efficiency (EE) and relative economic efficiency (R.EG). In conclusion, NSM could be used as a safety plant source of protein for feeding rabbits. Since NSM is considered to be successfully replaced up to 50% of the protein in formulating commercial concentrate feed mixture of growing rabbits. Additionaly, from the economical point of view using NSM reducing the cost unit of weight gain and increased the economic return of such replacing. Moreover, it consequently improved the growing rabbit performance at the marketing age (13th week). Attention must also be paid to the use of NSM for feeding breeding rabbits. More studies are needed to realize the factors responsible for immunilogical activity of NS as antitoxic and antioxidant agent for improving productive performance and immunity of farm animals.