EFFECT OF DIETARY POMEGRANATE(Punica granatum) PEEL POWDER SUPPLEMENTATION ON GROWING RABBITS PERFORMANCE.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of Pomegranate Peel powder (ppp) on growth performance, caecal microbial activity, mortality rate, carcass characteristics and economic efficiency of growing APRI line rabbits by using three iso-nitrogenous (16% CP),iso-caloric (2500Kcal/Kg),diets supplemented with(0,1.5 % and 3% ppp). Twenty five pregnant multiparous APRI does were randomly divided into five experimental groups ( kits of 5 does / each).The experimental data were collected on two periods, pre-weaning (3-5 weeks ) and post-weaning (5-10 weeks) Five feeding treatments were performed by using three tested diets. Results obtained could be summarized as follow :Through Pre-weaning period, the results showed that rabbits fed diet of prw 1.5% and 3%ppp recorded the highest values of daily weight gain, daily feed intake as compared to those fed the control diet (27.16 and 27.02 vs.21.71 gm, p<0.001) and 26.96 and 29.49 vs.27.57 gm ) respectively .Meanwhile feed conversion ratio was improved (1.10 and 1.09 vs.1.27) and mortality rate were decreased (2.56% and 3.57% vs. 9.10% ) respectively. During the Post-weaning period, inclusion of ppp whether 1.5 % or 3% in the diet leads to marked improvement of caecal eco-system through decreasing significantly numbers of pathogenic bacteria and justifying each of (PH) values, ammonia concentration and VFAs profile in the caecum toward healthy circumstances . increasing significantly final body weight, daily weight gain, and performance index, appreciable improvement of feed conversion ratio, carcass characteristics, meat composition and economic efficiency, while mortality were significantly decreased. It could be concluded that, highest benefits of pomegranate peel powder supplementation were observed as it was included in growing rabbit diets at levels 1.5% or 3% from two weeks before weaning leading to improve the growth performance and decrease mortality through pre- and post- weaning periods until 10 weeks of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]