Effect of dietary inclusion of dried citrus pulp on growth performance, carcass characteristics, blood metabolites and hepatic antioxidant status of rabbits

Abstract

Citrus pulp is a major by-product of the citrus processing industry. A total of 192 post-weaning, 35-day-old Hyla rabbits were randomly divided into four groups. Each group contained four replicates and each replicate comprised 12 rabbits. The four groups were given 0 (control group), 7%, 14% and 21% citrus pulp in the feed. Results indicated no significant difference in the performance of rabbits (P >.118). Rabbits fed with increasing citrus pulp demonstrated an increase in hot carcass weight (linear, P =.041) and liver weight (linear, P =.015). An upward trend (linear, P =.087) was found in thymus with increasing citrus pulp. The experimental groups all displayed an increase of at least 8.28%, 11.7% and 5.07% in serum albumin (ALB), ALB:GLO ratio and calcium (Ca) levels, respectively, compared with the control group (P <.05), and the experimental groups also presented high serum P (linear, P =.023). Hepatic total antioxidant capacity activities in the experimental groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (P <.05), but no difference was found in glutathione peroxidase activities (P >.05). In summary, inclusion of increased citrus pulp did not impair growth performance, could improve immunization, serum Ca and hepatic antioxidant status of growing rabbits.