1Department of Animal Production Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria; 2Department of Animal Science, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria.
*Correspondence | Oghenebrorhie Obakanurhe, Department of Animal Production Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria; Email: obakaoghenebrorhie@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Animal performance has considerably deteriorated as a result of recent, ongoing consequences of climate change that are raising temperatures. Chromium (Cr), especially when added to animal diets, can halt the lipid peroxidation caused by climate change because of its strong antioxidant qualities. A four-week study to determine the response of weaned rabbits at 5 weeks old on varying levels of organic and inorganic chromium supplementations was conducted. One hundred and twenty-six composite breeds of weaned rabbits of both sexes were randomly divided into seven groups. This was replicated thrice with six rabbits per replicate and was assigned to 7 diets in a completely randomized arrangement. The diets involved three levels of organic chromium (0.02, 0.04 and 0.06g/kg diet) and three inorganic chromium levels (0.02, 0.04 and 0.06g/kg diet), and the treatment without chromium was the control in a completely randomized design. Feed and water were supplied to the animals’ ad libitum. Data were collected on performance and blood indices. Dietary inclusion of organic and inorganic chromium supplementation had a significant (p< 0.05) effect on all parameter measured respectively. The diet containing 0.04g/kg and 0.06g/kg organic chromium produced the superior weight gains per day and better feed conversion ratio. It was concluded and recommended that an addition of organic chromium at 0.04g/kg and 0.06g/kg can be successfully supplemented in weaned rabbit’s diets without any negative effect on their performance and their blood biochemical.
Keywords | Blood indices, Climate change, Growth performance, Inorganic chromium, Organic chromium, Weaned rabbits
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