Abstract:The study aimed to evaluate the effect of Arak (Salvadora persica) as feed additive on performance of pre and post-sexual maturity of rabbit males. A control diet was formulated with an estimated proportion of 18% crude protein and 14% crude fi bre. Another three diets were formulated supplementing control diet with 0.1 0.2 or 0.3% Arak. The Arak used in this study contained (as % DM basis): 27.9 ash, 12.4 crude protein, 1.7 ether extract and 8.0 crude fi bre. Ninety-six weaned Black Baladi (BB) male rabbits aged 30 d weighing 570±8.30 g (mean±standard error) were used (24 per diet). Daily weight gain and daily feed intake were recorded from weaning up to 70 d of age (slaughtering commercial age). At this time four rabbits from each group were slaughtered and genitalia were immediately taken and dissected. Blood samples were collected at 120 and 150 d of age from fi ve bucks from each group. At the age of maturity several reproductive traits were also recorded. Final body weight at 70 d of growing BB rabbit males increased linearly and quadratically (P<0.001) with maximum Arak inclusion (0.23%), whereas feed effi ciency improved linearly by 0.16±0.061 g/g (P=0.011) per increment of 1 unit of Arak inclusion. Weight of sexual-accessory glands at 70 d of age increased linearly and quadratically (P<0.01) as dietary concentrations of Arak increased, the highest values for genital organs weight being obtained by using 0.2% Arak. Plasma testosterone concentration, from 120 d to age of puberty, increased linearly by 5.87±1.69 ng/mL (P<0.001) with Arak inclusion. The minimum puberty age was obtained by 0.2% Arak inclusion (P=0.024). Sexual desire, mating activity, semen-ejaculate volume, advanced-sperm motility, sperm-cell concentration and total-sperm output were linearly and quadratically affected by Arak inclusion (P<0.05), being optimized for 0.2% Arak inclusion. In conclusion, the addition of 0.2% Arak (Salvadora persica) to the growing and mature BB male rabbit diets improved growth and reproductive capabilities.

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Two hundred and twenty weaned rabbits of New-Zealand White (NZW) as exotic breed and Baladi Black (BB) as a local breed were used in the present study. The study included two experiments, where rabbits in the first and second groups were housed in unconditioning and conditioning rabbitry, respectively. The first experiment (lasted for 35 days post weaning) was designed to evaluate growth performance of rabbits as affected by breed and conditioning of the rabbitry. The 2nd experiment was carried out to evaluate mature rabbit reproductive traits by using 30 male rabbits, 15 of each NZW and BB in each group, during pre-mature period. The experiment lasted 3 months and aimed to estimate some blood serum constitutes and body thermoregulation, as well as age and weight at first mating and some parameters indicated fertilizing ability of bucks. Results showed that, daily weight gain , feed intake, feed conversion and final body weight of rabbits were significantly (P≤0.05) better in BB and in conditioning rabbitry than those of NZW rabbits and in the control -unconditioning group, respectively. Dressing percentage, carcass weight and relative internal organs weight, as well as, blood pictures of growing rabbits were significantly (P≤0.05) higher in conditioning and BB than in unconditioning rabbitry and NZW rabbits, respectively. Conditioning rabbitry significantly (P≤0.05) improved values of each of total protein and its fractions, some enzymes indicated liver activity, some physiological aspects indicated physiological ability of body-thermoregulation. Also, conditioning rabbitry significantly (P≤0.05) improved net revenue and relative economic efficiency as compared to unconditioning group. Results of the second experiment indicated that, scrotal circumference, testicular index and mating activity, as well as, female and male sexual hormones were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher in BB and in conditioning rabbitry than NZW and unconditioning rabbitry, respectively. Baladi Black rabbits showed libido; physical semen quality; conception and kindling rates; litter size and bunny weight at birth and at weaning and pre-weaning mortality rates significantly (P ≤ 0.05) better than NZW rabbits, using natural mating or artificial insemination. Libido and physical semen quality of bucks, and fertility traits of does mated naturally or inseminated artificially were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) improved by conditioning the rabbitry, in each breed. Using air conditioning in rabbitries showed a significant improvement in the economic efficiency of rabbit production.

The present experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of Zinc-enriched Spirulina (Zn-Sp) supplementation as an organic Zn source on the growth performance, nutrients digestibility, carcass characteristics, blood parameters and economic efficiency of growing rabbits. A total of forty eight male NZW rabbits (35 days old) were allotted to four groups (12 rabbits for each), 4 replicates (3 rabbits for each). Three levels of 75 and 100 mg Zn-Sp/kg diet) were compared to a control group without Zn-Sp addition. The results have shown that dietary Zn-Sp supplementation caused an increase (P<0.05) in final live body weight at 13 weeks. Supplementation of 75 and 100 mg Zn-Sp improved (P<0.05) body weight gain compared to the control group during the whole experiment period. The increases in body weight gain were 10.93 and 10.63% for 75 and 100 mg Zn-Sp, respectively compared to the control group. On the other hand, at all experimental periods, rabbits fed diets supplemented with 75 and 100 mg Zn-Sp consumed less (P<0.05) feed intake than those fed control diet or 50 mg Zn-Sp. As well as, diets supplemented with Zn at 50, 75 and 100 mg Zn-Sp improved (P<0.05) FCR throughout the experimental period (8weeks). Dietary Zn-Sp supplementation at 100 mg led to a significant increase in all nutrients digestibility In addition; Zn-Sp supplementation had insignificant effect on the CF digestibility. Feeding rabbits on diets supplemented with Zn-Sp at a level of 100 mg/kg DM increased (P<0.05) DCP%, TDN and DE (kcal/kg) compared to the control group. The obtained results also showed that supplementing rabbit diets with Zn-Sp at each tested level increased (P<0.05) hot carcass weight, dressing percentage, total edible parts (%), serum total protein and HDL, serum Zn concentrations, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) levels in comparison to the control group. Conversely, a significant decrease (P<0.05) was observed in serum total cholesterol and LDL concentrations compared with the

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