Nutritional and anticoccidial properties of papaya (Carica papaya) leaf meal on growing rabbits

The present study aims to evaluate the anticoccidial properties of papaya leaves meal (PLM) and its effect on the productive growing performance of rabbits. The effect on productive performance was investigated using forty-eight growing rabbits divided into ۴ groups of ۱۲ rabbits; and the anti-parasitic effect evaluation trial was conducted on separate forty eight growing rabbits rabbits divided into another ۴ groups (۱۲ each). The experimental diets (R۰, R۲, R۴ and R۸) contained different levels of PLM (۰%, ۲%, ۴% and ۸% respectively). For each trial, the experiment lasted for ۸ weeks. The measured parameters included daily weight gain, feed intake, feed convertion ratio (FCR), and faecal egg count. Secondary metabolites in PLM were quantified using its hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts. The results show a presence of phenols, tannins and flavonoids with high contents in the aqueous extract (۴۷.۵۵±۱۲.۴۰ mgeqGA/g, ۱۹.۰۳±۰.۰۳ μgeqCAT/mg, ۷.۴۵±۰.۱۶ mgeqQ/g respectively). No significant difference in feed intake and significant difference in daily weight gain (p < ۰.۰۵) and FCR (p < ۰.۰۱) occurred among the treatments, despite the progressive numerical increase in weight gain with the raising PLM in the diets. The use of PLM in the diets significantly decreased (p < ۰,۰۰۱) oocyst’s abundance in the treatments compared to the control (diet without PLM). Thus, the PLM represents a good alternative for improving the feeding and health status of growing rabbits.

Keywords:

Papaya leave , Growth performance Anticoccidial , Rabbits , Diet