The role of dietary supplements in the meat productivity of rabbits with a dry type of feeding

Abstract

The role of vitamin-mineral premix and nanocrystalline iron in the meat productivity of young rabbits was studied by classical methods in the scientific and economic experience in the departments of fur farming and Rabbit Breeding of the V. A. Afanasyev Research Institute of Fur Farming and Rabbit Breeding. From 180 heads of young rabbits at the age of 45 days, 3 groups of 60 heads each were formed according to the principle of analogues: the 1-st-control group received a typical full-fledged granulated mixed feed (FGMF) with a vitamin-mineral premix P 90-2T, in the (FGMF) of the 2-nd and 3-rd experimental groups, the premix was absent, but nanocrystalline iron was included in the (FGMF) of the 3-rd group. Control slaughter of rabbits to assess meat productivity was carried out at the age of 90 days. During the experiment, it was found that the feed in all groups was identical in gross caloric content, but slightly different in the ratio of nutrients. In the mixed feed of the experimental groups, there were more nutrients with the highest digestibility coefficient (fat and soluble carbohydrates) and almost 2 times less fiber, which is slightly digested in young rabbits, only by 3-10%. Rabbits of all groups had no significant differences in live weight and average daily gain. But during the fattening period, the rabbits of the experimental groups consumed less feed when feeding freely than in the control group. At the same time, there were no significant differences in the mass of the carcass and the slaughter yield between the groups. But the feed conversion rate in the experimental groups was 1.32 and 1.28 lower than in the control group, which is economically advantageous. Based on the results of the experiment, it can be assumed that the inclusion of biologically active additives in the form of vitamin-mineral premix and nanocrystalline iron in the full-fledged granular feed for young rabbits does not make much sense, since it does not contribute to increasing meat productivity. In the cost of mixed feed, the vitamin and mineral premix accounts for 10%. Optimizing the ratio of nutrients in the diet plays a crucial role in reducing the feed conversion rate.