Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Zinc-Methionine on Growth Performance and Serum Parameters of Jirong Rabbits

A 45-day growth trial was conducted to investigate the effects of 4 concentrations (0, 40, 80, 120 mg-kgj) Zinc-Methionine (Zn-Met) supplementation on growth and serum biochemical indexes of Jirong rabbits (60-day-old). A total of 72 Jirong rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups, 3 replicates with 6 rabbits each. The Met value in the basal diet was 0.60%. ADGs of group Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ were significantly different than that of control, increased by 3.16%, 7.53%, 8.14% during 0-15 days and 7.58%, 15.60%, 15.71% during 16-30 days and 8.27%, 12.43%, 11.44% during 31-45 days (P＜0.05), but it was not significantly different in ADG among group Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ (P＞0.05). The fur area and the density of hair of groups Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ were not significantly different than that of control (P＞0.05). The content of serum zinc, AKP, ALB for groups Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ were significantly different than that of control (P＜0.05). The serum TP and SUN in group Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ were not significantly different than that of control (P＞0.05). The results show that dietary supplementation of Zn-Met is much more efficient than dietary without Zn-Met for 60-day-old Jirong rabbits.