Economic, Productive, and Behavioral Evaluation of Using Dried Olive Cake and Ground Date Palm in Growing Rabbit’s Diet: Histological and Gene Expression Impact

Wahed, Noha; Sakr, Shimaa; Ateya, Ahmed; Shouman, Zeinab; Saad, Asmaa; Ibrahim, Samer

doi:10.21608/ejvs.2024.251461.1685

Economic, Productive, and Behavioral Evaluation of Using Dried Olive Cake and Ground Date Palm in Growing Rabbit’s Diet: Histological and Gene Expression Impact

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Development of Animal Wealth, Faculty of veterinary medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt.

² Department of Animal Wealth Development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.

³ Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt.

⁴ Department of Cytology and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.

⁵ Department of Behaviour and Animal Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.

⁶ Department of Development of Animal Wealth, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt

10.21608/ejvs.2024.251461.1685

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of incorporating different percentages (7.5% and 10%) of dried olive cake and ground date palm together with or without bentonite addition (1%) on economic efficiency, growth performance, gene expression, histopathological findings, and behavioral responses in New Zealand and V-line rabbit breeds. A total of 100 weanling rabbits, from both New Zealand and V-line breeds were used. The groups were categorized to five groups per breed based on the content of their feed. The inclusion of bentonite at a 1% in combination with both DOC and GDP led to enhanced growth performance for both breeds. From an economic perspective, reduced costs per kilogram of feed, overall feed expenses leading to lower total production costs. Additionally, significantly higher total return, net profit, and economic efficiency measures specifically observed within the (G10%B) group. Gene expression revealed non-significant differences in the growth markers. Bentonite addition at 1% increased expression profile of antioxidant markers. These findings were established also through the changes in histological features including increased length of mucosal folds, villi, crypt depth in the intestine and an enlarged hepatic lobule area in the liver. The groups that consumed treated diets displayed enhanced behavior through increased feeding and grooming activities, as well as reduced periods of inactivity. In conclusion, the inclusion of DOC and GDP together at a rate of 7.5% or 10% along with an additional 1% bentonite in the diet of growing rabbits, has the potential to yield cost-effective production outcomes.

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