Effects of crude fibre level in the diet on the intestinal morphology of growing rabbits.
The experiment was conducted to study the effects of 5.5, 8.5, 11.5 and 14.5% dietary fibre levels on growth performance and intestinal villi in growing rabbits. After the 5-week feeding period, food intake and body weight gain increased with increasing dietary fibre levels, feed conversion was highest with 11.5% dietary fibre. Scanning electron microscopy showed slight changes to the jejunal villi and the caecal mucosa in rabbits fed high dietary fibre (14.5%), but the degree of damage was greater in the caecum than the jejunum. Flattened colon villi were seen in the low dietary fibre group whereas high levels showed no effect.
Yu
B
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Department of Animal Science, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Chiou
P W
PW
D000818:Animals; D002432:Cecum / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003106:Colon / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D005526:Food, Formulated; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000473:pathology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011817:Rabbits