ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Raising growing rabbits is an ideal solution to confront animal protein deficiency, especially in developing countries. The presence of lignin in wheat straw causes limitation of the digestion overall process. The biological delignification is a practical and promising alternative due to improving the digestibility of wheat straw. This study aimed to enhance wheat straw digestibility and enriching it with protein and use it as a growing rabbit feedstuff. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Enzymes production of white-rot fungi was assayed in myco-straw and the mean value was recorded. Wheat straw has been treated with the three most effective fungal species with Biological Treated Wheat Straw (BTWS). After that, the myco-straw was grounded and included in diet to evaluate the growth performance, digestibility and blood parameters of a growing V-line rabbit. RESULTS: The best three species for enzyme productions were P. sajor-caju, P. columbinus and P. floridanus. The optimum incubation period was 16 days. The fungal treatments showed significant enzymes activity of laccase, Mn-peroxidase, cellulase and xylanase. Body weight, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio of growing V-line rabbits had improved than those of the control. But, nutrients digestibility of the diet containing BTWS and Carcass traits of growing V-line rabbits were non-significant compared with the control one. In comparison with control, the lipid profile had no differences but the total protein was improved. CONCLUSION: White-rot fungal conversion of wheat straw is maybe one potential alternative providing a more practical, environmental-friendly and nutritionally enhancing as rabbits feedstuff. Rabbits fed BTWS-diets had significantly improved growth performance.
