A Novel Trace Element Mixture to Enhance Growth, Blood and Carcass Characteristics of Growing Rabbits

Abstract

Abstract Animal producers face a series of problems; one of them is the availability of a high-quality product as a source of trace elements. The aim of this research study was to evaluate the effects of water supplementation of a Novel Trace Element Mixture (NTEM) on growth rate, blood, and carcass characteristics of growing rabbits. Seventy-two rabbits at seven weeks of age were used in the current study. Rabbits were randomly assigned to four treatment groups, each of six replicates ( n = 18): control (0 NTEM), second, third, and fourth groups were supplemented with different levels of the NTEM (0.5, 1, and 1.5 mL/L, respectively) in the drinking water twice a week for five weeks. All groups were kept under the same managerial and environmental conditions. The results showed that adding NTEM at different levels to drinking water significantly enhanced body weight, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and the rabbit’s performance index compared with the control group. The obtained data showed that serum, hemoglobin, and red blood cell values were within optimal ranges at the end of the study in the NTEM treatment groups, except for the low level. In conclusion, supplementation of NTEM in drinking water at the tested levels improved growth performance, feed efficiency, and selected hematological and biochemical parameters in growing rabbits, without adverse effects on health or carcass traits.