Nutrient Utilization and Growth Performance in Rabbits as Affected by Housing System and Yeast Supplementation

Thirty two weaned New Zealand White rabbits (45 days old) of both sexes were randomly divided into four treatment groups. The rabbits in treatment groups T₁ and T₂ were housed in cage system while rabbits under treatment groups T₃ and T₄ were housed in pen system. Rabbits in groups T₁ (cage system) and T₃ (pen system) were fed standard concentrate diets without yeast supplementation while in T₂ (cage system) and T₄ (pen system) groups, they were fed concentrate diets supplemented with 2% yeast (Saccharomyces cereviciae and Candida rugosa, 2 × 10¹³ cfu). At 13 weeks of age, rabbits raised under cage system had higher body gain as compared to reared under pen housing system. Similarly, 2% yeast supplementation in the concentrate mixture of rabbits resulted in faster (P<0.05) body weight gain than the rabbits raised without yeast supplementation irrespective of the housing system. The feed consumption and feed efficiency were similar in all the treatments. Rabbits fed 2% yeast supplementation in cage or pen system had higher (P<0.05) DCP (11.92, 12.10 vs. 11.28, 11.26%) and TDN (63.22, 63.30 vs. 59.32, 61.20%) than non-supplemented groups in cage or pen system. The digestibility of DM, OM, CP, EE and NFE were enhanced significantly (P<0.05) by supplementing yeast. The results of the study showed that rabbits reared in cage system and supplemented with 2% yeast in their standard diet showed improved growth performance and nutrient utilization.