Effect of dietary inclusion of dried citrus pulp on growth performance, carcass characteristics, blood metabolites and hepatic antioxidant status of rabbits

Citrus pulp is a major by-product of the citrus processing industry. A total of 192 post-weaning, 35-day-old Hyla rabbits were randomly divided into four groups. Each group contained four replicates and each replicate comprised 12 rabbits. The four groups were given 0 (control group), 7%, 14% and 21% citrus pulp in the feed. Results indicated no significant difference in the performance of rabbits (P >.118). Rabbits fed with increasing citrus pulp demonstrated an increase in hot carcass weight (linear, P =.041) and liver weight (linear, P =.015). An upward trend (linear, P =.087) was found in thymus with increasing citrus pulp. The experimental groups all displayed an increase of at least 8.28%, 11.7% and 5.07% in serum albumin (ALB), ALB:GLO ratio and calcium (Ca) levels, respectively, compared with the control group (P .05). In summary, inclusion of increased citrus pulp did not impair growth performance, could improve immunization, serum Ca and hepatic antioxidant status of growing rabbits.