RESEARCH PAPER

Effects of Feed Restriction on Growth Performance, Slaughter Performance, Meat quality, Serum Immune and Lipid Indexes, Intestinal Morphology and Cecal Microflora of Fujian White Rabbits

  • CHEN Dongjin ,
  • SUN Shikun ,
  • WANG Jinxiang ,
  • SANG Lei ,
  • CHEN Yanfeng ,
  • GAO Chengfang ,
  • XIE Xiping
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  • Fujian Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou 350013, China

Received date: 2022-04-11

  Online published: 2022-10-17

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different feed restriction methods on growth performance, slaughter performance, meat quality, serum immune and lipid indexes, intestinal morphology and cecal microflora of Fujian white rabbits. A total of 300 healthy 4-week-old Fujian white rabbits with similar body weight were randomly divided into 5 groups with 3 replicates per group and 20 rabbits per replicate (half male and half female). Rabbits in group A (control group) ad libitum intake, the others in feed restriction groups (groups B, C, D and E) were restricted by 80% of the average daily feed intake of group A the day before, and the feed restriction methods were fed once every day (fed 100% at 08:00, group B), fed once every day (fed 100% at 16:00, group C), fed twice every day (fed 50% at 08:00 and 50% at 16:00, group D) and fed twice every day (fed 70% at 08:00 and 30% at 16:00, group E), respectively. The experimental period lasted for 9 weeks, including 1 week of pre-experimental period and 8 weeks of formal experimental period. The growth performance of all groups was measured, and the slaughter performance, meat quality, serum immune and lipid indexes, intestinal morphology and cecal microflora of groups A, C and D were measured. The results showed as follows:1) the final body weight, average daily gain, average daily feed intake and feed to gain ratio of groups B, C, D and E were significantly lower than those of group A (P<0.01). The diarrhea rate of group A was significantly higher than that of groups C, D and E (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the mortality rate was significantly higher than that of groups D and E (P<0.05). 2) The pre-slaughter body weight, all carcass weight, half carcass weight, abdominal fat weight and abdominal fat rate of groups C and D were significantly lower than those of group A (P<0.01). 3) The longissimus dorsi ether extract content of group A was significantly higher than that of groups C and D (P<0.01). 4) The contents of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) in serum of groups C and D were significantly higher than those of group A (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the contents of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in serum were significantly higher than those of group A (P<0.01). 5) The villus length in duodenum and jejunum of group D was significantly higher than that of group A (P<0.01). 6) The Shannon index of group A was significantly higher than that of group D (P<0.05), and the Simpson index was significantly lower than that of group D (P<0.05). The cecal Ruminococcaceae_NK4A214_group relative abundance of group D was significantly higher than that of groups A and C (P<0.05), and the cecal Marvinbryantia relative abundance was significantly lower than that of groups A and C (P<0.05). In conclusion, the feed restriction of 80% free feed intake can improve the intestinal morphology and cecal microflora of Fujian white rabbits, promote the intestinal health, increase the serum immunoglobulin content, decrease the serum lipid content, muscle ether extract content, feed to gain ratio, diarrhea rate and mortality rate, and the feed restriction method of feeding twice every day (fed 50% at 08:00 and 50% at 16:00) has the best comprehensive effects.

Cite this article

CHEN Dongjin , SUN Shikun , WANG Jinxiang , SANG Lei , CHEN Yanfeng , GAO Chengfang , XIE Xiping . Effects of Feed Restriction on Growth Performance, Slaughter Performance, Meat quality, Serum Immune and Lipid Indexes, Intestinal Morphology and Cecal Microflora of Fujian White Rabbits[J]. Chinese Journal of Animal Nutrition, 2022 , 34(9) : 6043 -6055 . DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-267x.2022.09.057

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