title: Effects of pre-germinated fenugreek seeds inclusion in low-fiber diets on post-weaned rabbits' health status, growth performances, carcass characteristics, and meat chemical composition.
abstract: Newly weaned rabbits frequently suffer from digestive disorders particularly when fed low-fiber diets. Fenugreek seeds are rich in dietary fiber and would be suited to moderate such disorders. This study investigated the effect of pre-germinated fenugreek seeds (PGFS) on rabbits' health, digestibility, growth performance, and carcass parameters. Fourteen weaned rabbits were fed one of the following diets: (1) low fiber as negative control (NC), (2) low fiber containing 5% PGFS (F5), (3) low fiber containing 10% PGFS (F10), and (4) adequate fiber as positive control (PC). Each rabbit was reared in an individual cage for 7 weeks. Morbidity and sanitary risk indexes were not different (P > 0.05) between the four diets. Only 20% of the rabbits had a detectable caecal Escherichia Coli (E. coli) count (<105cfu/g), and all rabbits did not show Eimeria oocysts in their feces. Compared to NC, PC gave a lower (P < 0.05) weight gain and a higher (P < 0.05) feed conversion ratio (FCR). It was associated with a lighter (P < 0.05) chilled carcass weight, and its meat had slightly more moisture and ether extract with less protein. Inclusion of PGFS decreased (P < 0.05) feed intake at the 10% level and, consequently, tended to improve FCR, while no effect was detected on carcass characteristics and meat composition. This study suggested that (1) the low-fiber diet was adequate for both health and growth aspects of post-weaned rabbits, and (2) the inclusion of PGFS was without consequence on rabbits' health status and growth performance.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Improvement & Integrated Development of Animal Productivity & Food Resources, Higher School of Agriculture of Mateur, University of Carthage, Tabarka road, 7030, Mateur, Bizerte, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Sabah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mabrouki
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Improvement & Integrated Development of Animal Productivity & Food Resources, Higher School of Agriculture of Mateur, University of Carthage, Tabarka road, 7030, Mateur, Bizerte, Tunisia. chalghoumi.r@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Raja
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chalghoumi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Improvement & Integrated Development of Animal Productivity & Food Resources, Higher School of Agriculture of Mateur, University of Carthage, Tabarka road, 7030, Mateur, Bizerte, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hedi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abdouli
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D002432:Cecum; D004032:Diet; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004926:Escherichia coli; D018525:Germination; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011817:Rabbits / Q000254:growth & development*; D012639:Seeds; D029910:Trigonella; D014886:Weaning; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D010936:Plant Extracts; C056164:fenugreek seed meal
keywords: Carcass parameters; Fenugreek seeds; Meat; Rabbits