The effect of the feed supplemented by different tannin levels on the production and carcass traits of growing rabbits

The objective of the experiment was to analyze the production and carcass traits of growing rabbits fed by medicament free and by supplemented (with coccidiostaticum, or with 3 different tannin levels) pellet, respectively. From the age of 18 days the rabbits were fed by medicament free pellet supplemented by coccidiostaticum (Cc), or by tannin (400g/100kg: T400). At weaning (35 days of age) within both groups 5 subgroups were formed: medicament free (CO), and supplemented pellet containing coccidiostaticum (Cc), or different levels of tannin (Farmatan) (T200, T400 and T600). At weaning the body weight of the Cc rabbits was significantly higher than that of the T400 rabbits (974 vs. 940g, P<0.05). Except for this finding the fed pellet type did not influence the growing rabbits’ production (weight gain, body weight, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, mortality). The pellet type fed prior to weaning significantly affected the perirenal fat weight (Cc = 28.9 and T400 = 26.3 g; P<0.05). The rabbits fed by tannin supplemented pellet after weaning had a higher mid part ratio compared to the reference carcass (P = 0.1). As the mortality rate was low in all groups (CO, T200 and T600 = 5.9%, T400 = 1.4%, Cc = 0%, NS), it can be concluded that no positive effect can be expected when the analyzed population is healthy and the housing conditions and the feed compositions are adequate.