Effect of feeding rabbits on naturally moulded and mycotoxin-contaminated diet

For studying the effects of naturally moulded diet on mature female-rabbits, Buskat rabbits were fed for 6 weeks on a naturally moulded diet comparing with the other similar group of animals which was fed also on the same ingredients in the first diet, except that, they were sound (not moulded apparently). The results which were obtained from this study due to the feeding on the moulded diet were as follows: 1. Decreasing the feed intake significantly (P less than 5%) and increasing somewhat the water consumption, but the water/feed ratio increased significantly (P less than 5%). 2. Reduction of the digestibility of most nutrients, especially of the crude fibre (P less than 1%) and crude protein (P less than or equal to 5%). 3. Changing in the relative weights of different organs particularly the significant (P less than 5%) decrease in weight of the liver and spleen as well as the significant (P less than 5%) increase in weight of empty stomach and female genital tract. 4. The most important haematological changes were the reduction in cholesterol content and the elevation of phospholipid concentration, thus the cholesterol/phospholipid ratio decreased by the rate of 40.7%. Calcium/phosphorus ratio increased by the rate of 9.5% as a result of increasing calcium content in the control serum. 5. Chemical analyses revealed a significant (P less than 1%) reduction in ash content of the liver and magnesium content of the tibia bone, a slight decrease in liver content of iron and ether extract, and significant (P less than 5%) rise in femoral muscle content of the ether extract.