2College of Animal Sciencesand Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China.
3College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
4Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam
5Khyber Institute of Veterinary Sciences Peshawar25000 Pakistan
Keywords: Groundnut shells; Urea; Soybean meal; Rabbit; Digestibility;
Rabbit’s are small mammals belong to Leporidae family and order Lagomorphs. Rabbit’s have many characteristics, due to which it become an excellent source for meat production in developing countries, e.g. small body size, rapid growth rate, short generation interval, small gestation period, high prolificacy, genetic diversity, and short involution period [2].
The exchange of the country abundant crop residues into nutritive feed ingredients would be highly advantageous from several standpoints e.g. maximization of bio resource utilization, appropriate waste disposal and sustainable animal production [3]. Various studies had confirmed the presence of cellulolytic bacteria in the distal part of the small intestine and in the ceacum of Rabbit’s [4].
Therefore, monogastrics animal have the ability to utilize cellulose, a major constituent of crop residues. To utilize the crop residues as non ruminants feed ingredients would require prior chemical or biological treatment to break the strong association between structural polysaccharides and lignin which restricts the enzymatic degradations of cellulose [5].
This practice of feeding low energy high fiber diet for growing rabbit’s as a way to reduce digestive disorders has greatly weakened the overall farm feed efficiency [6]. On opposing, increasing high digestible fiber fractions, such as hemicelluloses and especially pectin’s, may motivate caecal fermentation transform the micro biota composition positively affect intestinal mucosa integrity and decrease the death rate caused by diarrhea [7].
Groundnut (Arachis hypogea) is the most important legume and belongs to legume or bean family (Fabaceae) specie. Recent advances in rabbit nutrition research have increased the number of criteria that are part of the nutritional recommendations, especially in the area of fibrous components [8,9].
Groundnut shell is a byproduct of groundnut processing industry. Groundnut shell is obtained when the nut is being removed for consumption by removing the shell manually or mechanically. The shell, though sometimes heaped and burnt, do usually just left lying around in unsightly, smelly heaps, rotting, thus make up an environmental pollution trouble. For now, because being a waste, groundnut shells could be very cheap, because the only cost would be the collection, treatment and transport to the site. Exploiting cheap feed resources for livestock production would lower the price in the market, thus increasing the intake of animal protein by the public in underdeveloped countries [10].
Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different level of urea treated groundnut shells with or without the addition of Soybean Meal (SBM) as a source of urease on feed intake, digestibility, nitrogen retention and economic value in growing rabbits.
Ingredients |
UR-0 |
UR-1 |
UR-2 |
UR-2+SBM-2 |
Groundnut Shells |
25 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
Maize |
12 |
15 |
18 |
22 |
Wheat Bran |
12 |
12 |
13 |
12 |
Berseem Hay |
7 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
Mustard seed cake |
18 |
16 |
14 |
13 |
Sunflower Cake |
18 |
17 |
14 |
13 |
Molasses |
7 |
8 |
8 |
7 |
Salt |
0.5 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
Vitamin/mineral |
0.5 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
D.M |
C.P |
C.F |
NDF |
ADF |
Lignin |
E.E |
Ash |
Gross Energy MJ/kg DM |
91.0 |
6.9 |
64.0 |
69.2 |
59.9 |
23.5 |
2.0 |
5.3 |
19.7 |
Diets |
DM% |
CP% |
OM% |
EE% |
Ash% |
NFE% |
CF % |
TDN% |
UR- 0% |
92.85 |
15.80 |
84.78 |
14.83 |
8.07 |
6.420 |
44.96 |
65.96 |
UR- 1% |
92.34 |
15.93 |
83.59 |
15.27 |
8.75 |
6.576 |
44.98 |
66.38 |
UR- 2% |
92.89 |
16.02 |
84.76 |
14.64 |
8.13 |
9.271 |
43.65 |
66.33 |
UR-2% +SBM2% |
92.84 |
15.96 |
84.51 |
17.11 |
8.33 |
9.497 |
41.66 |
66.56 |
Feed intake(gm/day) |
Diets |
|||
A |
B |
C |
D |
|
UR-0% |
UR-1% |
UR-2% |
UR-2% + SBM-2% |
|
DMI |
57.12c ± 1.482 |
59.88c ± 1.439 |
67.06b ± 1.608 |
72.66a ± 1.271 |
OMI |
50.7c ± 1.597 |
52.7c±0.935 |
57.7b ± 0.796 |
63.1a ± 1.201 |
CPI |
4.95c ± 0.630 |
6.91bc ± 0.664 |
8.87b ± 0.616 |
13.14a ± 0.772 |
EEI |
9.79b ± 0.687 |
10.00b ± 0.600 |
9.81b ± 0.661 |
12.77a ± 0.779 |
NFEI |
4.50c ± 0.912 |
6.44bc ± 0.936 |
7.80b ± 0.505 |
11.143a ± 0.912 |
Ash I |
3.87c ± 0.646 |
6.66b ± 0.858 |
8.58b ± 0.955 |
10.97a ± 0.443 |
NDFI |
41.44d ± 1.336 |
47.64c ± 0.878 |
53.82b ± 1.476 |
64.87a ± 1.013 |
ADFI |
27.37d ± 1.193 |
36.67c ± 1.060 |
43.91b ± 1.703 |
55.73a ± 1.211 |
ADLI |
12.62d ± 0.848 |
20.56c ± 1.295 |
30.62b ± 1.375 |
39.60a ± 0.193 |
Diet A= Urea treatment 0% Diet B= Urea treatment 1%
Diet C= Urea treatment 2% Diet D= Urea treatment 2
The data in table 3.1 showed that the total dry matter intake of the experimental ration containing different level of urea and SBM treated groundnut shells increase the daily feed intake as dry matter, crude protein and organic matter (gm/rabbit/day). The reason was that urea and SBM treated groundnut shells had increased the palatability of experimental ration of rabbits. The similar result was observed by M. S. Kraidees et al. Who stated that the improvement in the straw digestibility and palatability was due to urea treatment of straw?
The current result showed that the ether extract intake (12.77 gm/day), nitrogen free extract intake (11.143 gm/day) and daily ash intake (10.97 gm/day) in growing rabbits receiving diet D was highest as compare to other three groups of rabbits while it was lowest in rabbits feeding diet A.
In the current experiment, it was clearly observed in table 3.1 that the Neutral Detergent Fiber, Acid Detergent Fiber and Acid Detergent Lignin intake 64.87, 55.73 and 39.60 (gm/day) respectively was maximum in group of rabbits that consumed the experimental diet D while it was minimum in rabbit’s group that received the experimental diet A. Although intake of Neutral Detergent Fiber, Acid Detergent Fiber and Acid Detergent Lignin in experimental rabbits feeding rations A, B, C and D were significantly affected as shown in table 3.1.
The data revealed that the experimental ration containing different level of urea and soybean meal treated groundnut shells had an effect on the hunger of the growing rabbit’s as well as the intake of the nutrient’s for the long time of utilization. The main reason for increased intake in growing rabbits was due to addition of plant urea’s enzyme at the time of urea (ammonia) treatment acts on groundnut shells by breaking down ester linkages between cell wall polymers. Using 2% soybean meal as a source of urea’s enzyme with urea treated groundnut shells helped to reduce the crude fiber percent in experimental diets by increasing cell wall porosity, which makes polysaccharides more available to enzymatic hydrolysis. The present result are well corresponded with the finding of Ahmed et al. Who observed that the animal receiving different level of urea and soybean meal treatment in their diet consumed more dry matter than control one.
Parameters |
Diets |
|||
A |
B |
C |
D |
|
UR- 0% |
UR-1% |
UR-2% |
UR-2% + SBM-2% |
|
DMD |
53.26c ± 1.377 |
55.41c ± 1.199 |
62.90b ± 1.240 |
70.91a ± 1.083 |
OMD |
71.82c ± 0.679 |
71.83c ± 0.464 |
75.80b±0.941 |
78.89a ± 0.410 |
CPD |
62.85c ± 0.991 |
68.95c ± 0.833 |
73.56b ± 0.988 |
80.63a ± 1.152 |
EED |
79.27b ± 1.067 |
79.48b ± 0.201 |
80.05b ± 1.857 |
85.32a ± 0.491 |
NFED |
66.88c ± 1.405 |
69.72bc ± 1.412 |
71.61b ± 1.439 |
81.18a ± 0.991 |
Ash D |
68.91c ± 0.122 |
71.66b ± 0.473 |
71.78b ± 1.139 |
73.96a ± 0.292 |
NDFD |
44.94d ± 0.694 |
51.14c ± 0.936 |
61.82b ± 1.476 |
72.12a ± 1.034 |
ADFD |
35.37d ± 0.964 |
40.42c ± 1.144 |
44.56b ± 1.455 |
58.13a±0.859 |
ADLD |
21.37d ± 1.493 |
26.81c ± 1.684 |
34.18b ± 0.951 |
42.10a ± 1.169 |
In table 3.2, the excellent digestibility coefficient of Neutral Detergent Fiber, Acid Detergent Fiber and Acid Detergent Lignin were 72.12, 58.13 and 42.10 percent respectively in rabbits receiving diets D while it was minimum (44.94, 35.37 and 21.37% respectively) in group of rabbits feeding diet A. However, digestibility coefficient of Neutral Detergent Fiber, Acid Detergent Fiber and Acid Detergent Lignin for rabbits feeding diets A, B, C and D were significantly affected.
It was proved from study that the nutrient digestibility were higher in group of rabbits receiving urea treated cowpea husk based diet and urea treated straw because some lignocelluloses linkages were broken down by urea which allow more intensive microbial fermentation [14].
In the current study, the enhancement of digestibility may be due to the capability of the ammonia released from urea to weaken the lignified outer walls, which allow ceacal microorganisms for better penetration to produce more effective liberation and fermentation of the nutrients and also such ammonia soften the lignin layer which speed up the fermentation process of the nutrients by allowing the micro flora to penetrate easily [15,16].
The digestibility coefficient was seen maximum in the rabbit’s group that consumed the experimental diet D containing urea and soybean meal treated groundnut shells. Because with urea solution the addition of soybean meal may result in better digestibility by hydrolyzing urea. According to Ahmad et al. Which stated that the apparent digestibility of nutrients was maximum when soybean meal were used as a source of urea’s with urea treated rice straw.
The current study correspond to the finding of who revealed that during urea treatment the use of 3.5% chick pea seed meal as urea’s source may helped in urea hydrolyzation which resulted in better nutrient digestibility by the animals [17].
Parameter |
Diets |
|||
A |
B |
C |
D |
|
UR- 0% |
UR-1% |
UR-2% |
UR-2%+SBM-2% |
|
N intake |
1.71c ± 0.026 |
1.87c ± 1.873 |
2.10b ± 0.064 |
2.45a ± 0.036 |
N excreted |
0.57a ± 0.021 |
0.51ab ± 0.040 |
0.47b ± 0.031 |
0.45b ± 0.013 |
N retained |
1.13d ± 0.020 |
1.36c ± 0.076 |
1.62b ± 0.094 |
2.00a ± 0.032 |
Parameters |
Diets |
|||
A |
B |
C |
D |
|
UR- 0% |
UR-1% |
UR-2% |
UR-2% + SBM-2% |
|
Initial body weight(gm/day) |
1103.7ab ± 12.07 |
1150.4a ± 10.41 |
1067.7b ± 9.52 |
1165.6a ± 11.99 |
Final weight (gm) |
1332.1b ± 11.20 |
1402.3ab ± 13.12 |
1331.2b ± 8.58 |
1473.0a ± 10.86 |
Difference(gm) |
249.40c ± 3.192 |
251.91c ± 3.131 |
263.52b ± 3.152 |
307.42a ± 4.561 |
Body weight (g/day) |
4.03c ± 0.053 |
4.19c ± 0.052 |
4.39b ± 0.051 |
5.12a ± 0.076 |
FCR |
5.03a ± 0.061 |
4.35b ± 0.081 |
4.19b ± 0.055 |
3.11c ± 0.072 |
The improvement in body weight gain of the group of rabbits receiving diet Das compared to the group of rabbits receiving diet A may be due to the fact that the rabbits of these group get more protein when 2% soybean meal were added at the time of urea treatment [18].
The urea and soybean meal treated groundnut shells in the experimental diet enhanced the FCR of dry matter, crude protein, organic matter and total digestible nutrient because soybean urea’s quickly hydrolyzes the urea which enhancing microbial multiplication. Ultimately there would be more available amino acid for host animals for body growth as compared to those animals which fed urea treated straw without any external urea’s source [17]
Parameter |
Diets |
|||
A |
B |
C |
D |
|
UR- 0% |
UR -1 % |
UR - 2% |
UR-2% + SBM-2% |
|
Total wt. gain (gm) |
228.40d ± 3.192 |
251.91c ± 3.131 |
263.52b ± 3.152 |
307.42 ± 4.561 |
Feed cost/rabbit |
34.72a ± 0.879 |
33.94a ± 0.866 |
17.91b ± 0.196 |
12.92c ± 0.205 |
Total sale |
57.09d ± 0.799 |
62.97c ± 0.783 |
65.87b ± 0.789 |
76.85a ± 1.142 |
Profit |
22.37d ± 1.601 |
29.03c ± 0.511 |
47.96b ± 0.853 |
63.92a ± 1.497 |
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