Evaluation of cactus cladodes as a partial feed for growing rabbits in the Gaza Strip

To evaluate use of cactus Opuntia cladodes (COC) under unavoidable conditions as a partial feed on the growth performance, organs and carcass weights of growing rabbits under small scale growth conditions. The study design was a case-control. It was carried out on the local weaned rabbits (n= 48), aged 35-40 days and average initial live weights was about 550 g. The period of study was 8 weeks. The rabbits were classified randomly to four different groups. One was a control group and the others were case groups. The control group (C) was fed ad libitum on only high protein pellets, which is commercially called Anber (RPA). Case groups were labeled trial 1 (T1), trail 2 (T2), and trial 3 (T3) and were fed ad-libitum COC and 80%, 60% and 40% RPA, respectively. The actual nutrient contents of the two feeds were examined in Al-Azhar University food analysis labs. SPSS system was used to analyze data