SODIUM-BUTYRATE AS A FEED ADDITIVE IN THE DIETS OF RABBITS

The effects of sodium-butyrate on body weight gain, feed conversion, d igestibility of nutrients and the composition of the gut flora were in vestigated in rabbits under farm condition, using 8-week-old weaned, m ale and female New Zealand White rabbits. Three groups of 30 animals w ere formed for the fattening trial: control (Group 1), 0.15 % (Group 2 ) and 0.30 % (Group 3) sodium-butyrate supplementation in the pelleted feed. The trial lasted 28 days. Immediately after the fattening trial a digestibility study was carried out to determine the nutrients' dig estibility coefficients of the three experimental diets, using 5 male rabbits per group. At the end of this experimental period the 15 rabbi ts were stunned and slaughtered. Samples were taken from the distal pa rt of the ileum and from the cecum, as well as from the wall of the ga stric fundus. The feeding of diets containing both 0.15 or 0.30 % sodi um-butyrate, significantly (p < 0.05) improved the production (body we ight gain and feed efficiency). There were no differences between Grou p 2 and 3. The balance study showed, that the sodium-butyrate suppleme ntation significantly (p < 0.01 or 0.001) improved the digestibility o f all major nutritients (crude protein, ether extract, crude fiber and N-free extract). On the basis of the microbiological, mycological and chemical examinations, the best biological status (so called eubiosis , i.e. the optimal ratio and stability of gut organisms) could be foun d in the animals of group 2. Sodium-butyrate, in a concentration of 0. 15 % can be a promising bio (''green'') feed additive for growing rabb its.