Productive performance of broiler rabbits fed diets supplemented with probiotic and enzymes under two systems of housing¹

The study was designed to assess the effect of rearing system and supplementation of probiotics and enzymes to diets on growth performance of broiler rabbits. Four experimental diets were formulated. Diet T1 served as control T2 was supplemented with Kemzyme HF @ 500 gms/Ton of feed, Diet T3 was supplemented with Probiotic (S. boulardi 50% and P. acidilacticii 50%), @10⁹ CFU/gm of feed and Diet T4 contained both probiotics and enzymes. Body weights of rabbits housed under cages was significantly higher at all ages except at 16 weeks of age where the difference was not statistically significant though higher. The effect of supplementation of either probiotics or enzymes was pronounced in both the systems of housing with rabbits fed diets supplemented with probiotics or both probiotics and enzymes performing better than their counter parts fed diets without supplementation or supplemented with just enzymes. Cage reared rabbits recorded significantly higher ADG's upto 14 weeks of age while rabbits reared under backyard had significantly higher body weights at 14–16 weeks age. It was be concluded that rabbits could be reared profitably under backyard system of housing and the supplementation of diets with probiotics and enzymes had a positive influence on body weight gain.