A Preliminary Study on the Use of Enzyme and Organic Acids in Rice Bran- containing Diet at Two Levels of Dietary Protein for Rabbit

Abstract

Rice bran has long been used as an ingredient for animal diet in Indonesia. It has moderate content of protein, digestible energy and crude ber. In monogastric animal, including rabbit, rice bran is moderately used due to its rather low digestibility. The use of enzyme that is able to improve nutrient digestibility of the feedstuff is well known. This experiment was carried out to study the inclusion of enzyme and organic acids in a diet containing high level of rice bran on the performance of rabbit. A factorial 2 x 4 design applying 2 levels of dietary protein (14 and 18 %) and addition of enzymes and organic acids in each protein level was carried out. Basal diet contained 45 % rice bran. Treatments at each level of dietary protein were (i) basal without addition, (ii) basal + 0.03 % multienzyme, (iii) basal + 0.03 % multienzyme + 0.03 % propionic acid and (iv) basal + 0.03 % multienzyme + 0.03% sodium butyrate. Each treatment consisted of 5 replications of 3 Rex rabbits. Parameters measured were feed consumption, daily bodyweight gain (BWG), feed conversion (FCR) and dry matter digestibility in adult and young rabbits. No interactions were detected among treatments on parameters measured. No signi cant differences were also observed with the treatments on the inclusion of enzymes and organic acids for all parameters. There were however, better performances on rabbit fed higher protein level, regardless of the additives inclusion. Corresponding values for those parameters at 14 vs 18 % dietary protein were 93 vs 86 g/h/d for consumption, 13 vs 15 g/h/d for BWG, and 7.4 vs 6.0 for FCR, respectively. Dry matter digestibility in adult (56 vs 58 %) and young (54 vs 58 %) animals were also higher for diet with 18 %. Bodyweight of rabbits on the digestibility trial were also higher in adult (2666 vs 2443 g/head) and young (1621 vs 1557 g/head) fed 18 % protein. It is concluded that higher protein levels gave better performance for rabbit, including its digestibility. Inclusion of enzymes and organic acids did not give signi cant effect on the Rex performances.