Use of different levels of false flax (Camelina sativa L.) seed in diets for fattening rabbits

An experiment has been conducted to study the effects of various levels of false flax (Camelina sativa L.) seed (FFS) in the diet on the growth performance, some carcass characteristics and fatty acid profile of rabbits meat and fat. In the experiment, a total of 30 weaned crossbred rabbits aged 70 days and weighing, on average, 2316 g were equally divided into three groups of 10 (five male and five female rabbits each). Three levels (0%, 10%, or 15%) of FFS were included in isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets. The experimental period lasted 50 days. At the end of the experiment, there were no significant differences among the groups in live weight, live weight gain, feed consumption, feed efficiency, carcass yield and the percentages of edible organs. The percentage values of head, skin and limbs, fore legs, hind legs, breast and ribs, loin and abdominal wall were not affected by the inclusion level of FFS. Although the chemical composition of the meat was not significantly affected by the dietary treatment, the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentration in the longissimus dorsi muscle and perirenal fat was significantly increased with the increasing of FFS inclusion, while saturated fatty acid (SFA) decreased. The n−6/n−3 PUFA ratio of the meat decreased from 3.86 in the control group, to 1.19 in the 15% of FFS group. These results showed that the use of a diet supplemented with FFS was effective in reducing the saturation, atherogenic and thrombogenic indexes, with consequent benefits on the nutritional quality of rabbit meat for consumers, without significant adverse effects on growth performance and carcass characteristics.     

Influence of cellulose fibre length on faecal quality,mineral excretion and nutrient digestibility in cat

In dogs, faeces quality and nutrients digestibility were affected by different types of cellulose ( Wichert et al., 2002 ). In this study, it was investigated whether there are comparable effects of cellulose type in cats. Seven adult, healthy cats were fed a moist commercial complete cat food with three different cellulose type added at a level of 4% for a 1 week period. Faeces quality was between 1 and 3 on the scale used from 1 to 5. The addition of long fibre cellulose resulted in significantly firmer faeces. Addition of cellulose decreased the digestibility of dry matter and energy, whereas the impact on protein and fat digestibility was not significant. The type of cellulose affected faecal bulk and faecal water excretion. Faecal excretion of sodium and potassium was exponentially correlated to faecal water, faecal bulk and to a lesser extent to faecal dry matter excretion. Faecal calcium, magnesium and phosphorus excretion showed an exponential correlation to faecal dry matter excretion. A weaker correlation existed in all three elements to faecal bulk, whereas the effect of faecal water excretion was small. Results suggest a remarkable likeness between cats and dogs with regard to the digestive physiology of major minerals.     

Preliminary study on the feeding habits of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in the western Alps

Roe deer feeding habits were studied in the western Alps during the summer season using the faecal analysis method. The diet of cattle grazing in the same area was also investigated and the trophical niche overlap between the two species was determined. The roe deer diet was found very variable and mostly composed of dicotyledons, with Leguminosae and Cistaceae as prevalent species. Monocotyledons, mainly represented by Graminaceae, were consumed to a lesser extent. A significant preference was observed for Cistaceae and other dicotyledons whereas a significant refuse was observed for Graminaceae and Asteraceae. These data confirmed the roe deer's behaviour to select food with a better nutritive value. Despite the differences between the cattle and roe deer's diets, the trophical niche overlap was quite high. This can be explained by the homogeneity of the plants covering the whole area which probably limited food selection by the roe deer.