Dietary effect of fermented wheat powder (lisosan g) on productive performance and meat quality in intensively-reared rabbit

Cereals are basic food for human consumption and for animal feeding containing a wide variety of components with nutraceutical properties. Several dietary nutraceutical supplements were used in rabbit diet to improve the meat quality. The effect of the Lisosan G enrich-feed on the productive performance and meat quality in growing rabbits was evaluated. The trial lasted 63 days and was conducted in an experimental rabbitry on 40-weaned and clinically healthy male rabbits. Animals were fed a commercial diet and randomly assigned to four treatments: control diet (CON group) and diet supplemented with 10 g/kg (LIS1 group) or 20 g/kg (LIS2 group) or 30 g/kg (LIS3 group). Performance parameters, such as body weight, average daily gain, feed intake, feed conversion indices and results relating to slaughter reliefs were not statistically affected by the experimental treatments. The Lisosan G supplementation, at the rate of 20 g/kg feed, produced in rabbits a significant improvement of qualitative characteristics of the meat, characterized by higher oxidative stability, with a lower level of TBARS providing also a positive effect on meat shelf-life. Dietary treatments including fermented wheat powder improved meat the fatty acid profile, highlighted by a significant reduction of saturated fatty acid (SFA) and a marked increase of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), leading to an improvement of the nutritional value of the meat and with positive effects on consumer's health.