EFFECT OF ADDING MORINGA LEAF MEAL TO RABBIT DIETS ON SOME PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE TRAITS

Two experimental studies carried out in order to study the effect of incorporating Moringa leaf meal (MLM) in the diets on the productive and reproductive performance of New Zealand White (NZW) does and their kids. In the first experiment, twenty-seven mature NZW does and nine bucks with an average live body weight of 2.75-3.00 Kg and 5-6 months of age were divided into 3 experimental groups, with 3 replicates each, to study does productive and reproductive performance. Three experimental diets were formulated for does and bucks. Diet 1 (T1) served as the control and contained no Moringa oleifera leaf meal (0%). Diet 2 (T2) and Diet 3 (T3) contained Moringa oleifera leaf meal at the levels of 3% and 6%, respectively. In T2, the 3% MLM replaced 1% soybean meal and 2% barley. In T3, MLM at the level of 6% replaced 2.5% soybean meal and 4.5% barley. In the second experiment, the resulted bunnies of the used does in the first experiment (48 kids distributed to 4 replicates; 4 rabbits each) with an average weight of (800±20 g) were used in a fattening period lasted for 56 days starting after weaning (at 35 days age) and lasted till the 13th week of age. The growing rabbits continued to receive 3 and 6% MLM in their diets (T2 and T3) in a comparison to those received diets without MLM (T1) which served as the control. The second diet (T2) was contained 3% MLM substituted 2% yellow corn and 1% soybean meal. The third diet (T3) contained 6% MLM substituted 4% yellow corn and 2% soybean meal. Productive performance and carcass traits were measured. Economic efficiency of using these materials during the two experiments was considered as well. The obtained results showed that incorporating MLM in diets of mature NZW rabbits reduced significantly number of services for per conception (NSC), days open (DO) and kidding interval (KI). On the other hand, it had no significant effect on gestation period length (GPL) of does. Litter size (LS) significantly (P<0.05) increased with increasing MLM in the diets compared to the control diet. Litter weight (LW, g) followed the same trend of litter size with the superiority of high level of MLM in most cases. Mean bunny weight (MBW, g) significantly improved (P<0.05) with substituting MLM in the experimental rations. Daily weight gain (DWG, g) increased significantly (P<0.05) with feeding on T2 or T3 (26.28 and 29.28 g/day, respectively) than feeding on T1 (23.12 g/day). The highest No. of parity recorded with using 3% MLM, which significantly differed than that recorded with the control group, but without significant difference with the third group (received 6% MLM). Feed intake / parity (Kg) was reduced in both groups of MLM and the noticed significant (P<0.05) reduction recorded between the control and the group received 3% MLM in their diets. The two MLM groups produced the highest (P<0.05) litter weight / parity (Kg) as compared to the control group, but without significant differences between them in the same trait. During fattening period of bunnies, with age order advancement the two groups received 3 or 6% MLM in their diets showed significant increase (P<0.05) in live body weight (LBW) with the superiority to those in the group fed high level (6%) of MLM when compared to those in the other two experimental groups. The DWG followed the same trend of LBW in the two groups fed MLM either in a periodical’ intervals or for the whole period. Daily feed intake decreased with using MLM in diets of growing rabbits and mean feed intake (g) showed no significant differences among the three experimental groups during the fattening period. Feed conversion (FC) improved significantly (P<0.05) in the tested groups with the best of group received 6% Moringa over that of 3% and 0% (control). The dressing percentages were higher (P<0.05) with feeding on T2 or T3 (62.41 and 62.60%, respectively) than feeding on T1 (59.88%), while the live weight was 2126, 2185 and 2220 g with T1, T2 and T3 diets, respectively. In point of economic efficiency, the use of MLM at different levels in rabbit diets improved average weight rabbits(Kg/doe), total return, net return as well as economic efficiency and relative economic efficiency for does and growing rabbits. Conclusively, it could be concluded that Moringa oleifera leaf meal has a strong potent and can play a vital role in rabbit nutrition since it improved economic benefits without any adverse effects on animal performance.