Alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in rabbit feeding: a review.

L. Falcão-e-Cunha

Portugal

Universidade Técnica de Lisboa

Inst. Superior de Agronomia

L. Castro Solla

Portugal

Universidade Técnica de Lisboa

L. Maertens

Belgium

Inst. Agricultural and Fisheries Res.

M. Marounek

Czechia

Czech Academy of Sciences

V. Pinheiro

Portugal

UTAD-Univ. Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro

J. Freire

Portugal

Universidade Técnica de Lisboa

J.L. Mourão

Portugal

UTAD-Univ. Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro

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Accepted: 2010-06-29

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Published: 2010-07-07

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2007.597
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Keywords:

Probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes, organic acids, rabbits

Supporting agencies:

This research was not funded

Abstract:

This review is focused on the most studied and developed substances which are commonly knownas alternatives to dietary antibiotics, particularly as far as rabbit feeds are concerned. After a reminder of thereason to be and success of antibiotic growth promoters, and why they lately came to be banned in theEuropean Union, we successively deal with probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes and organic acids. Data on rabbitsare, as expected, quite scarce when compared to species such as pigs and poultry. Nevertheless, theavailable performance results are discussed together with the possible mechanisms of action. Special mentionis made of the effects of these substances on digestibility and caecal activity.
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