The impact of incorporating dried cafeteria leftover food on growing APRI rabbits productivity, profitability and meat quality

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dried cafeteria leftover food (DCLF) incorporation in growing APRI rabbit diets on nutrient digestibility, live body weight, body weight gain, carcass traits, meat quality, blood parameters, and economic efficiency. Thirty-six APRI rabbits (6 weeks of age), after weaning, were randomly divided into three groups (12 rabbits/group, 613 ± 5 g). During the experiment, rabbits aged 6-14 weeks participated in the experiment. An approximate isocaloric and isonitrogenous composition was achieved in three pelleted experimental diets. For the rabbit groups D1 (as the control), D2, and D3, DCLF was added at doses of 0%, 17.5%, and 35%, respectively. Digestibility trails were carried out at the end of the feeding experiment to evaluate the nutritional and feeding values of the experimental diets. To examine the characteristics of the carcasses, the quality of the meat, the histopathological analysis, and the blood plasma parameters, three rabbits were slaughtered from each group. The results showed that the feeding values (TDN and DE), which had the greatest values, as well as the digesting coefficients for dry matter, organic matter, crude fiber, and ether extract between the D1 and D3 groups were significantly different (p < 0.05). On the contrary, the curde protein, nitrogen-free extract, and digestible crude protein of the examined diets showed no signifcant differences compared with the control diet. The level of DCLF incorporation in diets significantly (p < 0.05) increased the live body weight at 14 weeks; with D3 recording the highest values (2130.9 g) when compared to the D1 and D2 groups. A similar pattern was observed for both daily increase and total body gain (6-14 weeks). Feed conversion recorded insignificant differences among the experimental diets respecting the period 6-14 weeks of age. DCLF levels had a significant effect on dressing and giblet percentages. The chemical composition and color parameters of rabbit meat were similar (p > 0.05), except for fat%, which had the highest value in the D3 group (p < 0.05) compared to the D1 and D2 groups. Economic efficiency was improved by using DLCF up to 35% in terms of gross margin and feed cost/kg gain. In conclusion, using DCLF in the feeding system of rabbits could enhance productive performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and physiological function, as well as improve economic efficiency.

Keywords: cafeteria leftover food; carcass components; economic efficiency; growth performance; meat quality.