EFFECT OF MANNAN OLIGOSACCHARIDES ON CAECAL MICROBIAL ACTIVITY AND INCIDENCE OF DIARRHOEA IN BROILER RABBITS

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted for a period of four months using eighteen weaned White Giant broiler rabbits, belonging to University Rabbit Farm, Mannuthy with three groups of six replicates each, to assess the effect of supplementation of Mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) on caecal microbial count and incidence of diarrhoea. The animals were divided into three groups of six animals as uniformly as possible with regard to sex, age and weight and were randomly alloted to three dietary treatments. The animals were fed with three experimental rations, T1- basal diet (16 per cent CP and 2500 kcal/ kg DE), T2- basal diet + 1.5 g MOS/ kg diet and T3- basal diet + 3 g MOS/ kg diet and fodder adlibitum. Caecal coliform count, total viable count and incidence of diarrhoea during the entire period of experiment were recorded. The results of the study indicated that the addition of MOS at 3 g/ kg diet resulted in significant reduction of coliform count and total viable count was similar in all the three groups. Inclusion of MOS at both levels 1.5 and 3 g / kg diet resulted in reduced incidence of diarrhoea in experimental rabbits when compared to control group without any additive.