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- Title
Health Aspects, Growth Performance, and Meat Quality of Rabbits Receiving Diets Supplemented with Lettuce Fertilized with Whey Protein Hydrolysate Substituting Nitrate.
- Authors
Osman, Ali; Imbabi, Tharwat A.; El-Hadary, Abdalla; Sabeq, Islam Ibrahim; Edris, Shimaa N.; Merwad, Abdel-Rahaman; Azab, Ehab; Gobouri, Adil A.; Mohammadein, Amaal; Sitohy, Mahmoud
- Abstract
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) was grown using a foliar spray with whey protein hydrolysate (WPH) as opposed to normal nitrate fertilization. Lettuce juice was prepared from lettuce cultivated without any fertilization, nitrate fertilization, or WPH. Sixty weaned, 4-week-old male V-line rabbits with an average 455 ± 6 g body weight were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 15) and administered different lettuce juices. Rabbits administered WPH-fertilized lettuce showed significantly higher (n = 5, p < 0.05) body weight and carcass weight than those receiving nitrate-fertilized lettuce. Rabbits administered nitrate-fertilized lettuce were associated with significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels of liver enzyme activities (AST, ALT, and ALP), bilirubin (total, direct, and indirect), and kidney biomarkers (creatinine, urea, and uric acid). Rabbits administered WPH-fertilized lettuce avoided such increases and exhibited normal levels of serum proteins. Rabbits administered nitrate-fertilized lettuce manifested significantly (p < 0.05) lower RBCs and Hb levels than that of the other groups, while those receiving WPH-fertilized lettuce showed the highest levels. Liver and kidney sections of rabbits receiving WPH-fertilized lettuce witnessed the absence of the histopathological changes induced by feeding on nitrate-fertilized lettuce and produced higher quality meat. WPH-lettuce can substitute nitrate-fertilized lettuce in feeding rabbits for better performance and health aspects.
- Subjects
LETTUCE; WHEY proteins; PROTEIN hydrolysates; RABBIT meat; MEAT quality; DIETARY supplements; FOLIAR feeding
- Publication
Biomolecules (2218-273X), 2021, Vol 11, Issue 6, p835
- ISSN
2218-273X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/biom11060835