Premium
Effects of Moringa oleifera leaves as a substitute for alfalfa meal on nutrient digestibility, growth performance, carcass trait, meat quality, antioxidant capacity and biochemical parameters of rabbits
Author(s) -
Sun B.,
Zhang Y.,
Ding M.,
Xi Q.,
Liu G.,
Li Y.,
Liu D.,
Chen X.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.651
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1439-0396
pISSN - 0931-2439
DOI - 10.1111/jpn.12678
Subject(s) - moringa , meal , feed conversion ratio , zoology , albumin , biology , catalase , superoxide dismutase , food science , antioxidant , chemistry , body weight , biochemistry , endocrinology
Summary This contribution reports the effects of Moringa oleifera leaves ( MOL s) meal on the growth performances, nutrient digestibility, carcass trait, meat quality, antioxidant capacity and biochemical parameters of growing New Zealand white rabbits. The MOL was substituted for alfalfa meal at levels of 0, 10%, 20% and 30% to obtain respective diets MOL 0, MOL 10, MOL 20 and MOL 30. Each treatment was replicated five times with 10 rabbits per replicate. Results showed the average daily weight gain ( ADWG ) and feed conversion ratio ( FCR ) of rabbits fed MOL 20 diet were significantly better (p < 0.05) than those of other three dietary groups. Liver and spleen index of rabbits fed MOL 20 and MOL 30 diets was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of the groups fed with lower M. oleifera leaves ( MOL 0, MOL 10). The meat drip loss of rabbits fed with diet MOL 10 was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than that of rabbits fed other diets. All rabbits fed MOL dietary groups had lower (p < 0.05) shear force of longissimus dorsi than the group without M. oleifera leaves. No significant differences were found in the digestibility of crude fibre ( CF ), crude fat ( EE ), ash, crude protein ( CP ) and nitrogen‐free extract ( NFE ) among the dietary groups. Moringa oleifera leaves also have a significant impact on serum albumin ( ALB ), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDLC ), triiodothyroxine ( T 3 ) and tetraiodothyroxine ( T 4 ) values and the activity of superoxide dismutase ( SOD ) and catalase ( CAT ) in serum and liver. The results indicated that M. oleifera leaves could be developed as a good feed source, and it not only could substitute for alfalfa meal well but also has a significant effect on growth performance, meat quality, antioxidant and biochemical parameters of rabbits.