The study aimed to evaluate the effect of inulin and mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) vs zinc-bacitracin (ZnB) on rabbit growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood profiles. In total, 108 rabbits 32 days of age were divided into four homogeneous groups fed the same basal diet and submitted to the following dietary treatments: control group, without supplementation; inulin group, supplemented with inulin (0.25 g/rabbit.day); MOS group, supplemented with MOS (0.083 g/rabbit.day); and ZnB group, supplemented with ZnB (0.083 g/rabbit.day). The supplements were administered 2 days per week from 32 to 81 days of age. At 32, 56 and 81 days, the rabbits were weighed and feed intake was measured. Mortality was recorded daily. Nutrient digestibility was measured at 65 days by an ingesta–excreta balance. Samples of blood were collected at 53, 67 and 81 days of age. The control group showed the highest (P < 0.01) mortality rate throughout the trial (17.0%), followed by ZnB (8.18%), inulin (3.7%) and then the MOS group, which had the lowest mortality (1.6%; P < 0.01). Addition of MOS led to a more favourable (P < 0.05) feed conversion ratio than addition of ZnB at 32–56 days of age and inulin for the entire trial period. The MOS group showed increased (P < 0.01) digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, ash and crude fibre relative to the control group. All supplements increased (P < 0.01) protein digestibility relative to the control. The level of alanine aminotransferase was reduced due to the use of feed supplements, and MOS supplementation gave the lowest (P < 0.01) value. Administration of prebiotics to growing rabbits as an alternative to ZnB can lead some advantages compared with both antibiotic and unsupplemented diets; MOS was more effective than inulin.
This experiment aimed at investigating the effects of milk thistle seeds (MTS) and rosemary leaves (RL) at 5 and 10 g/kg diet as feed additives on semen quality, blood metabolites and reproductive performance on rabbit bucks. A total number of 35 male V-line rabbit bucks were distributed randomly into five experimental groups of 7 bucks each. The 1 st group, which served as a control, did not supplement with MTS and RL in their basal diet. The 2 nd and the 3 rd groups were supplemented with MTS at 5 and 10 g/kg in their basal diet, respectively. The 4 th and the 5 th groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with RL at 5 and 10 g/kg, respectively. The best sperm concentration (SC), total sperm output (TSO), live sperm (LS), total live sperm (TLS) and total motile sperm (TMS) were obtained from bucks fed MTS at 10 g/kg diet followed by RL at 5 g/kg diet. Bucks received MTS 10g/kg diet significantly increased their blood serum testosterone compared to the control and this was associated with a significant increase in the fertility rate of the 10 g MTS group. In addition, RL at 5 g/kg significantly increased blood serum testosterone and fertility compared to the control, but the MTS group had the highest serum testosterone and fertility. In conclusion, MTS and RL at 10 and 5g/kg, respectively, significantly improved antioxidant status and liver markers, which led to a significant increase in semen quality and fertility in rabbit bucks.
The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of aqueous extracts of Galega officinalis and Asparagus racemosus on mammary gland development, milk yield and its impact on the productivity of rabbit does. A total number of sixty female V-Line breed rabbits initially aged 10 weeks old, and extended throughout three sequence parities were used in this study. The animals were randomly distributed into five experimental groups (12 does each) .The 1 st group was served as control without any supplementations in drinking water, the 2 nd and 3 rd groups were supplemented with aqueous extracts from aerial parts of Galega officinalis (G. officianalis) of 150 and 300 mg crude extract /kg body weight (BW) respectively. Whereas, the 4 th and 5 th groups were supplemented with aqueous extract of Asparagus racemosus (A. racemosus) roots of 100 and 200 mg /kg BW respectively of rabbit does. Addition of A. racemosus and G. officinalis led to a significant increase in values of ovarian hormones and surface area of the mammary alveoli compared to control group. Supplementing the rabbit does with both concentrations of G. officinalis in drinking water during rearing period and continuously for full duration of gestation period and first the 21 days of lactation significantly accelerated pubertal mammary gland development, increase milk yield and enhancing productivity of rabbit does compared to control group throughout three sequence parities. The same trend of significant increase was observed with both concentrations of supplementation with A. racemosus during rearing and lactation only. Whereas, supplementing with high level of A. racemosus (200mg/kg BW) during pregnant period significantly increased stillborn at birth .Also, the rabbit does which treated with A. racemosus for throughout the gestation period exhibited higher fetuses resorption rate at slaughter and aberrant embryo spacing within the uterine horns, and therefore smaller litter size of pups in the post-natal studies, with delayed development and increased mortality. In conclusion, water supplementations with aqueous extract from both concentrations of G. officinalis in the drinking water for rabbit does could be recommended to improve pubertal mammary gland development, increase milk yield and enhance productivity of rabbit does. In addition, supplementation with A. racemosus should be avoided in pregnant rabbit does.
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