الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 154 |  |  |
| | | from | 154 | | |
Abstract
The present study was planned to compare the efficiency of using different forms of copper and zinc in growing rabbit diets and their effect on productive performance, carcass traits, haemato-immunology, nutrients digestibility, and architecture of the liver and kidney. A total of 120 growing New Zealand White rabbits (male, 6 weeks of age, 579.08± 8.19 g) were divided into 8 similar groups in a 2 × 4 factorial design. The first four groups were fed the following diets: i) basal diet (control), ii) 100 mg CuO / kg diet as inorganic source, iii) 100 mg Cu-acetate / kg diet as inorganic source, iv) 50 mg Nano-Cu/kg diet as nano-form. Rabbits of the second four groups were given the following diets: i) basal diet (control), ii) 100 mg ZnO/ kg diet as inorganic form, iii) 100 mg Zn-acetate/ kg diet as organic form, iv) 50 mg Nano-Zn/kg diet as nanoparticles form. The results indicates that rabbits fed diets supplemented with zinc recorded higher (P<0.001) feed intake compared with those fed diet supplemented with copper. Feed cost increased in growing rabbits fed diets supplemented with zinc, when compared with those fed diets supplemented with copper, while final margin decreased. Rabbits fed on diets fortified with nano, organic, and inorganic-microelements recorded the best final body weight, daily gain weight, relative growth rate, daily feed intake, feed conversion and protein efficiency rate relative to those fed the control diet. The digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, nitrogen free extract and organic matter increased for rabbits fed diet supplemented with nano, organic and inorganic-microelements, when compared with those fed the diets without microelements supplementation. Hematocrit and neutrophils percentages were significantly increased in inorganic and nano trace elements groups compared to those in the control. All copper and zinc sources showed a significance increase in immune indicators compared with those fed the control diet. Rabbits fed diet supplemented with organic, inorganic, and nano microelements recorded higher values of feed cost and return from body gain than the control. Furthermore, rabbits fed diets supplemented with nano form of microelements were the higher values of final margin than the other experimental groups. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of both zinc and copper in the form of organic and nanoparticles were more efficient than inorganic in enhancing final weight, specific growth rate, and weight gain.