Year: 2002
Type: article
Abstract: Caprylic acid (C8:0) is a compound present in the rabbit milk, active against a variety of microorganisms.The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of caprylic acid on growth and mortality of young rabbits.Caprylic acid was added to granulated feed at 0, 2 and 5 g/kg.Two feeding trials on different farms were carried out using weaned Hyla 2000 and Hyplus rabbits, 5 weeks old at the start of the experiment (altogether 288 rabbits).Caprylic acid had no significant effect on total weight gains in either trial.No adverse effect of caprylic acid on feed intake was observed.The mortality of rabbits fed diets with caprylic acid at 0 and 5 g/kg was 16.7 and 0% (P < 0.05), and 9.3 and 2.0% in the 1 st and the 2 nd trial, respectively.It can be concluded that caprylic acid is capable to decrease mortality of young rabbits.Its use seems to be more effective on farms where rabbit mortality is high. Antibiotics alternative, fatty acid, growth
Source: Acta Veterinaria Brno
Authors: V. Skřivanová, M. Marounek
Language: English
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W2066336166