Effect of different extruded feeds varying in ingredient composition on the performance of laboratory rats
Author(s): R Rajkumar and C Bandeswaran
Abstract: This study evaluated the impact of five different extruded feed formulations on body weight gain and feed intake in laboratory rats. The formulations (T1-T5) were prepared using ingredients such as maize, soybean meal, rice flour, roasted Bengal gram, and de-oiled rice bran. The chemical compositions of the raw materials were analysed. A 21-day feeding trial was conducted on 25 male Albino rats divided into five groups, each fed ad libitum with one of the feed formulations. Results showed significant variation in weight gain and feed intake among the groups, with T4 (+21.80%) and T5 (+17.40%) exhibiting superior performance compared to T1 (+8.77%) and T2 (+5.54%). T4 and T5, which included roasted Bengal gram and reduced broken rice, outperformed maize-soybean-dominant diets (T1 & T2). The findings highlight the importance of incorporating diverse ingredients such as roasted Bengal gram and de-oiled rice bran alongside maize and soybean for better palatability and weight gain in laboratory rats. This study underscores the potential for optimizing extruded feed formulations to enhance laboratory animal nutrition and suggests broader applications in cost-effective feed production.
R Rajkumar, C Bandeswaran. Effect of different extruded feeds varying in ingredient composition on the performance of laboratory rats. Int J Vet Sci Anim Husbandry 2024;9(6):268-270. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/veterinary.2024.v9.i6e.1879
