Effect Of NDF Levels Of Diets On Growth Performance, Intestinal Immune And Caecal Bacteria In Weaned Rex Rabbit

The objective of the present study was conducted to study the effect of diet NDF level onweaning rabbit performance, intestinal morphology, IgA level and cecum microbial population,which intended to demonstrate the relationship between diet NDF and intestinal health andprovide the theory basis in formulation the weaning phase rabbit diet. A single factor experimentdesign was used in this study, and64weaning rabbits (35d) with similar body weight (432±11g)were randomly assigned into4group,14rabbit per group (1rabbit per replicate). The level ofdiet NDF was29%,33%,37%and41%, respectively. The experiment composed of5d pre trailand28d experiment period. Body weight and feed intake was recorded every seven days. At theend of the experiment,6rabbits were slaughtered in each group to collecting samples todetermine the performance, intestinal morphology, intestinal IgA and microbial population. Theresults are summarized as follow:(1) Diet NDF level changed the performance of rabbit (P<0.05), diet with33%NDF hadhigher body weight than group with37%and41%NDF (P<0.05). Feed intake had no differencebetween the treatments (P>0.05). Ratio of feed intake to body weight gain in group with33%NDF was lower than that29%and41%NDF group.(2) Effect of diet NDF on intestinal morphology indicated that duodenum and ileum villousheight, crypt depth and ratio of villous height to crypt depth was similar between the treatments(P>0.05). Villous height in jejunum had no different between the treatments (P>0.05), but dietwith29%and33%NDF group had higher crypt depth than group with37%and41%NDF group(P<0.05). Ratio of villous height to crypt depth was higher in group41%NDF than group in29%NDF (P<0.05), and there was no different between33%and37%NDF group (P>0.05).(3)IgA content in duodenum and jejunum increased with increasing diet NDF level (P<0.05), but this result was not observed in ileum (P>0.05). White blood cell were similarbetween the treatments (P>0.05).(4) General bacterial was similar between the treatments. Lactobacillus was decreased withincreasing diet NDF level, and group with29%NDF had higher amount of lactobacillus thangroup with37%and41%NDF. Bacteroides was firstly increased and then decreased withincreasing diet NDF. Group with33%NDF had higher bacteroides than the other groups. CecumE. coil was decreased with increasing diet NDF level. Group with41%NDF had lower E. coilthan group with29%and33%group. Cecum pH was increased with increasing diet NDF level.Diarrhea rate mortality decreased with increasing diet NDF level.In summary,33%NDF diet improved the performance of rax,41%NDF diet increased thehealth of intestinal of rex.