Journal of Animal Health and Production

Research Article
J. Anim. Health Prod. 9(4): 487-495
Http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.jahp/2021/9.4.487.495
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George Ezzate Younan, Safaa Ataya Barakat, Fadila Easa, Samah Mohamed Abdel-Rahman*

Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Nadi El-Said Street, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.

Abstract | The present study aimed particularly to study the impact of different dietary copper forms on new synthetic APRI line under Egyptian conditions. Forty primiparous APRI rabbit does aged between 5-6 months were divided into 4 equal groups; the first group was considered as control one (G1) that fed with basal diet; G2 is the second group fed basal diet supplemented with Nano-Cu particles (50mg/kg diet). The G3 and G4 are groups that supplemented with 200 mg /kg of Cu-SO4 (metal copper) and 200 mg / kg of copper-methionine (organic source), respectively. The results showed that, level of estrogen was higher (P<0.05) in treated groups (especially G2) than that in G1. In addition, the supplemented copper forms exhibited positive impact (P<0.05) on rabbit does body weight, starting from one month before insemination reaching to kits weaning age. The conception rate was higher in treated groups than that in G1 by 50%, 33% and 16.6%, in groups G2, G3 and G4 respectively. They born bunny with body weight at birth, 41.42 g, 33.63 g, 36.13 g and 45.71g in G1, G2, G3 and G4 respectively. Moreover higher (P<0.05) litter size at birth was recorded in G2 in comparison with control group and other treated groups. Additionally the supplemented Cu resulted in producing kits with higher (P<0.05) body weight (especially G2) than G1. Milk production was affected (P<0.05) by Cu supplementation and recorded as 150.5, 173.0, 208.0 and 212.5 g/day/doe, in G1, G2, G3 and G4, respectively at 3rd week of lactation. Milk protein, and fat percentages were also modulated (P<0.05) by the Cu treatment. In conclusion, supplemented rabbit does with different copper forms enhanced does and kits performance, especially the group supplemented with Nano-Cu.

Keywords | APRI Rabbit, Copper Forms, Fertility Traits, Litter Size and Weight, Milk Production