EFFICIENCY OF VITAMIN AND MINERAL PREMIX USE IN YOUNG RODNIK RABBITS FATTENING

The objective of the study is to determine the effect of the vitamin and mineral premix P90-2 on nutrient and energy digestibility, vitamin and microelement balance, and meat productivity in young Rodnik rabbits during the fattening period. The study was conducted in 2024 in the laboratory of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Afanas'ev Research Institute of Fur-Bearing Animal Breeding and Rabbit Breeding (FSBSI NIIPZK) on twelve 45-day-old Rodnik rabbits, which were divided into two groups for two balance experiments using a standard methodology. The groups received diets that differed in the content of the vitamin and mineral premix P 90-2. The content of vitamins (B1, B2, B6, A, E, D3) in the samples was determined by HPLC, and microelements (iron, copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt) were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. For most nutrients (except crude fat, p ≤ 0.001) and gross energy, digestibility coefficients did not differ between groups. However, rabbits that did not receive the premix ingested more dry matter and gross energy (p ≤ 0.05 in the first balance experiment, p ≤ 0.10 in the second experiment). Moreover, rabbits in both groups utilized the same amount of micronutrients. Rabbits receiving the premix absorbed more vitamins A, E (p ≤ 0.001), and B2 (p ≤ 0.05 in the first experiment). Slaughter weight yield and body condition indicators did not differ between the rabbits in both groups. Addition of 1.0 % vitamin and mineral premix to the diet of young Rodnik cross rabbits during fattening under laboratory conditions (with the basic content of microelements in the diet, mg/kg air-dry matter: iron – 207.5; copper – 21.3; zinc – 84.8; manganese – 69.0; cobalt – 0.56 and vitamins B1 – 5.91 μg/g, B2 – 4.49 μg/g, B6 – 4.98 μg/g, A - 0.11 ppm (μg RE/100 g), E – 20.00 ppm (mg TE/100 g), D3 – less than 0.01 mg/kg) does not contribute to an increase in the digestibility of nutrients and gross energy of feed, and does not affect the indicators of meat productivity.