Influence of Plant Biological Additive on the Productivity of Young Rabbits

Abstract

The search for elements of technologies and preparations of natural origin that improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract of animals is relevant given that intensive growing technologies involve the use of a significant amount of various kinds of antibiotics that reduce immunity and negatively affect the quality of meat products. Preparations developed on the basis of biologically active substances from essential oils of medicinal and spicy-aromatic plants are promising in this area. The studies used the dietary supplement Activo, recommended for feeding poultry and pigs, created on the basis of essential oils of rosemary, oregano, and thyme. That is why the purpose of the study was to find out the effectiveness and safety of using dietary supplements as an element of intensive rabbit meat production. Research methods – zootechnical, laboratory, statistical. For intensive fattening of young rabbits of the newly created chinchilla type, a mixed feed recipe based on local feed ingredients was developed. It was established that with the addition of Activo to the diet of fattening young rabbits in the amount of 100, 150, and 200 g/t, their productivity at 90 days of age increased, in particular, live weight – by 2.4-5.3%, average daily growth – by 3.5-6.4%, lifetime loin width (meatiness index) by 2.0-2.4%, feed conversion improved by 4.1-5.6%. It is shown that the use of dietary supplements in the amount of 150-200 g/t of mixed feed in the diets of young rabbits with intensive production of rabbit meat reduces direct costs for the production of 1 tonne of rabbit meat by UAH 2,200 and increases the profitability of production by 5%. Thus, the use of a biological additive as an element of intensive fattening of young rabbits helps to improve the lifetime meat content and slaughter yield of young rabbits while reducing the cost of finished feed and increasing its conversion, which leads to a decrease in direct production costs