Effects of Restricted Feeding on Growth Performance, Intestinal Immunity, and Skeletal Muscle Development in New Zealand Rabbits.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to explore the effects of different feeding restriction levels on the growth performance, intestinal immunity, and skeletal muscle development of meat rabbits. Additionally, we studied whether complete compensatory growth could be obtained post 2 weeks of restricted feeding, in order to seek a scientific mode of feeding restriction. Each of three groups was exposed to 3 weeks of feeding restriction and 2 weeks of compensatory growth. The 15% feeding restriction showed a negligible effect on the final body-weight of the rabbits (p > 0.05), but significantly reduced the feed-to-weight ratio (p < 0.05); reduced diarrhea and mortality; and increased digestive enzyme activity and antioxidant capacity. However, a 30% feeding-restriction level substantially reduced the growth rat

SUBMITTER: Zhuang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8772555 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature