Effects of Dietary Fibers with Different Physicochemical Properties on Intestinal Health and Growth Performance of Meat Rabbits

Abstract

Simple Summary The type of dietary fiber in rabbit feed can greatly influence gut health and growth, but not all fiber raw materials are equally beneficial. In this study, we first measured the nutritional value, hydration properties and fermentation of 12 different fiber raw materials. Based on these measurements, we selected four fiber raw materials with increasing hydration properties and fermentation, namely peanut vine meal, Pennisetum giganteum meal, Moringa oleifera leaf meal, and mulberry leaf meal, and fed them to 96 weaned rabbits over 35 days. Results showed that Moringa oleifera leaf meal improved gut bacteria, increased beneficial fermentation products, and reduced diarrhea. In contrast, mulberry leaf meal, despite being highly fermentable, was associated with gut inflammation, higher ammonia nitrogen levels, reduced growth performance, and increased diarrhea in the rabbits. Our findings provide practical guidance for feed manufacturers and farmers in choosing better fiber raw materials for meat rabbit diets.