This study aims to evaluate the impact of individual or combination of alpinia galangal (AG) and zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) on growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing rabbits. 48 male Baldi red rabbits aged 5 weeks were assigned to 6 treatments. Treatments were (1) control diet, (2) 50 mg (AG)/kg DM (AG1), (3) 100 mg (AG)/kg DM (AG2), (4) 100mg ZnSO4/kg DM (Zn), (5) 50 mg (AG) + 100 mg ZnSO4/ kg DM (AG1Zn) and (6) 100 mg (AG) + 100 mg ZnSO4/ kg DM (AG2Zn). Feeding AG2, AG1Zn, and AG2Zn recorded higher growth performance traits than control. The Zn, AG1Zn, and AG2Zn enhanced all apparent digestibility coefficient parameters compared to other treatments. In addition, carcass traits were improved by AG2, Zn, AG1Zn, and AG2Zn treatments. Regarding economic efficiency, each AG2 or AG1Zn and AG2Zn represented the most promising treatments. Results referred that an individual dose of (AG2) or its combination (AG1Zn and AG2Zn) maximizes the growth performance and economic efficiency of growing rabbits.
Keywords | Bioactive components, Carcass traits, Growing rabbits, Medicinal plants, Synergistic effect