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Extracted and Characterized Humic Substances as Feed Supplement in Rabbit Feeding: Effects on Performance, Blood Metabolites and Caecal Fermentation Activity

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Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary humic acid (HA) supplementation on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics, blood metabolites, and caecal fermentation activity in growing rabbits. Six-week-old New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits (n = 63) with an initial body weight of 726.32 ± 42.85 g, were randomly allocated to three groups of 21 rabbits each. Rabbits were fed on the basal diet with 0 (HA0, control), 5 (HA5) and 10 (HA10) gram/kilogram diet for 70 days in a completely randomised experimental design. A significant heavier (P < 0.001) final body weight and a higher average daily gain, with lower feed intake, and a better feed conversion ratio were in HA5 and HA10 rabbits. The digestibility of HA-supplemented diets was greater than that of HA0. Heaviest carcass weights (P < 0.05) were observed in the HA5 rabbits, followed by the HA10 rabbits vs. HA0. Protein and ash content of meat increased (P < 0.001) in all HA rabbits, while the ether extract decreased (P < 0. 01) in HA5 and HA10 rabbits. The HA-treated rabbits were distinguished by increased (P < 0.001) total protein, albumin, and globulin levels. However, the total cholesterol, triglycerides, and urea levels decreased (P < 0.001), and the blood glucose and creatinine levels remained unaffected with HA supplementation. Addition of HA reduced the pH of caecum and sharply decreased (P < 0.001) NH3-N content but it had no significant effect on the levels of total volatile fatty acids and acetic acid. Levels of propionic and butyric acid increased (P < 0.001) in response to HA supplementation. In conclusion, supplementation of HA of up to 10 g/kg can be used in diets of growing rabbits, with significant effects on the digestion, growth performance, blood cholesterol concentration, and caecal fermentation activity.

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Acknowledgements

Noubaria Experimental Station of the Animal Production Research Institute at the Agricultural Research Centre and City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications in Egypt are greatly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Livestock Research Department, Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, New Borg-Elarab, Alexandria, Egypt

    S. H. Abu Hafsa

  2. Agriculture Research Center, Animal Production Research Institute, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

    A. A. Hassan

  3. Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, People’s Republic of China

    A. Sabek

  4. Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Moshtohor, Kalyobiya, 13736, Egypt

    A. Sabek

  5. Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria Y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, Mexico

    M. M. M. Y. Elghandour, A. Barbabosa-Pliego & A. Z. M. Salem

  6. Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 34, 123, Al-Khoud, Oman

    O. Alqaisi

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  1. S. H. Abu Hafsa
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Contributions

Conceptualization: SHAH, AAH; methodology: SHAH, AAH; investigation: SHAH, AAH, AS, MMMYE; validation: SHAH, AAH, AB-P, OA; writing original draft: SHAH, AAH, AS; review editing: AZMS.

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Correspondence to A. Z. M. Salem.

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This study was conducted in compliance with the guidelines approved by the  Scientific Ethics Committee of the Animal Production Research Institute, the Agricultural Research Centre, Egypt.

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Abu Hafsa, S.H., Hassan, A.A., Sabek, A. et al. Extracted and Characterized Humic Substances as Feed Supplement in Rabbit Feeding: Effects on Performance, Blood Metabolites and Caecal Fermentation Activity. Waste Biomass Valor 12, 5471–5479 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-021-01392-3

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