| Author(s) | M. I. Yousef 1, M. M. Zeitoun 2, Zeinab, K. El-Awamry 3 and A.F.M. Ibrahim 3 |
| Affiliation | 1 Department of Environmental Studies, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, Egypt 2 Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, El-Shatby, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt 3 Central Lab. for Food and Feed (CLFF), Agriculture Research Center, Giza, Cairo, Egypt |
| Title | Growth Performance and Physiological Responses of Male Rabbits as Influenced by Drinking Saline Well Water |
| Source | Journal of King Saud University. Agricultural Sciences. Volume 16, No 2. (2004/1424) |
| Abstract | The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of drinking low (800 ppm TDS/L), medium (3004 ppm TDS/L) and high (5284 ppm TDS/L) levels of salinity in natural well water as compared to tap water (232 ppm TDS/L) on the growth and physiological performance of male rabbits. Twenty eight male New Zealand White rabbits (age 4 months, average body weight 2.4 0.2 kg) were randomly assigned into 4 groups: group 1 animals were served as control which given tap water and group 2, 3 and 4 animals were offered well water contained 800, 3004 and 5284 ppm TDS/L, respectively for a period of 12 weeks. Results indicated that drinking natural well water did not significantly influence body weight gain, dry matter and protein intakes. Rabbits drank the low saline well water had a significantly lower total water intake than those drank the tap water or the other two levels of TDS. Moreover, there found no effect on digestible crude protein, rectal temperature, respiration rate, carcass traits and relative organ weights. Rabbits drank the medium and high saline water exhibited significant higher values of digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, nitrogen-free extract and total digestible nutrients. Whilst, plasma total protein and globulin increased (p < 0.05) in treated than control animals, however albumin concentration was not affected by treatment. There were no significant effects on plasma total lipids and the activities of plasma aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase. On the other hand, cholesterol and creatinine concentrations and the activity of alkaline phosphatase were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in plasma of treated than control animals. However, urea concentrations were significantly (p<0.05) lower in plasma of animals drank medium and high than low TDS or control animals. It can be concluded that rabbits drank saline well water containing up to 5284 ppm TDS/L exhibited no harmful effects on growth performance and physiological parameters. Therefore, water used in the present experiment could be used as an acceptable and safe source of water for raising New Zealand White rabbits under desert condition of Northern West Coast of Alexandria, Egypt. |
