Effect of silkworm (bombyx mori) oil dietary inclusion on live performance and carcass traits of growing rabbits

The objective of the study was to examine the effec t of a complete dietary substitution of sunflower o il with silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) pupae oil (SWO) and evaluate the growth perfor mance and carcass traits of growing rabbits. Weaned rabbits (5wk) wer e randomly divided into 2 groups (n=32 rabbits/group; pair-caged) which were both fed with a commercial pelleted diet containing 1.3% sunflower oil (Control) until 7 weeks of age. From 7 to 10 weeks of age, half of the rabbits continued to receive the Control diet, whereas the second gro up eceived a diet in which the sunflower oil was completely (1.30%) replaced by SWO. Ad libitum feeding was applied throughout the experiment and drinking water was also freely available from nippl e drinkers. The individual body weight and on a cage basis feed intake of rabbits were measured wee kly. Daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio were then calculated. Morbidity of animals was also m nitored weekly, whereas mortality was checked daily. At 10 weeks of age, rabbits were sla ughtered and dissected. Globally, the weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of rabbits we re not influenced by the dietary inclusion of SWO. No morbidity and mortality were observed during the growing period in both groups. Carcass traits were also similar in the two experimental groups. I n conclusion, SWO can be considered a promising feed ingredient for growing rabbits as it ensured s atisfactory growth performance and carcass traits.