Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2025, Vol. 56 ›› Issue (4): 1813-1824.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2025.04.029

• Animal Nutrition And Feeds • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effect of Dietary Lactulose Supplementation on Growth Performance, Serum Parameters and Meat Quality in Meat Rabbits

WU Xiuju(), XIA Pei(), LUO Yihao, LUO Jinwei, XUE Mengdi, KE Yanhang, LI Juan, LÜ Jingzhi*()   

  1. College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
  • Received:2024-07-04 Online:2025-04-23 Published:2025-04-28
  • Contact: LÜ Jingzhi E-mail:2198145801@qq.com;513136840@qq.com;ljzzl-66@163.com

Abstract:

This study assessed the effects of lactulose (LAC) on the growth performance, apparent digestibility of nutrients, meat quality, serum biochemistry and antioxidant parameters in meat rabbit. A total of 192 35-day-old Ira male rabbits were randomly diveded into 4 groups which fed diets containing LAC 0%(control), 0.5%, 1% and 2% for 35 days, respectively, in which 7 d were prefeed period and 28 d were experimontal period. The results showed that 1) Compared to the control group, the average daily gain (ADG) of meat rabbits (P < 0.05) showed significant improvement in 2% LAC group from 1 to 28 d. Besides, the feed-to-gain ratio was decreased(P < 0.05) in 1% and 2% LAC treatments compared to control group; 2) The apparent digestibility of dry matter(DM), ether extract(EE), crude fiber (CF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and calcium(Ca) were increased (P < 0.05) in rabbits fed the 2% LAC diet compared with the control diet; 3) The serum glucose and malondialdehyde contents were remarkably increased(P < 0.01) and decreased in the 2% LAC group (P < 0.05), respectively. The level of serum total protein (TP) and globulin (GLB) were remarkably increased(P < 0.05) after feeding the 1% LAC diets compared to the 2%LAC group; 4) Compared to the control group, the pH of longissimus dorsi was improved (P < 0.05) in the 2% LAC treatment. The different addition of the LAC resulted in significant higher(P < 0.05) unsaturated fatty acids(UFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). 2% LAC treatment could significantly increase polyunsaturated fatty acid(PUFA) in longissimus dorsi (P < 0.05). The PUFA/SFA (P/S) ratio of longissimus dorsi was remarkablely increased (P < 0.05) in 1% and 2% LAC treatment. 2% LAC treatment could markedly increase the PUFA content and P/S of leg muscles in meat rabbits (P < 0.05). In conclusion, adding 1% and 2% LAC to the diet not only could improve the growth performance but also promote the antioxidant capacity and muscle quality of meat rabbits.

Key words: lactulose, growth performance, serum parameters, meat quality, meat rabbits

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