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Exposure of male rabbits to heat stress during summer adversely affects their fertility, leading to major production losses. A total of 16 male rabbits were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups exposed to temperatures ranging from a high of 30.3 to a low of 27.3 °C. Animals from first to fourth groups were fed diets containing 0, 1.5, 3.0, or 4.5% pomegranate peel (PP) to evaluate the ability of PP feeding to enhance bucks' reproductive status. Pomegranate peel treatments significantly increased ejaculate volume by 19, 18 and 12%, increased seminal plasma fructose by 7, 18, and 24%, improved sperm motility by 28, 34 and 49%, increased sperm total output by 37, 69 and 102% and reduced dead sperm by 24, 32 and 64% with diets containing 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5% of PP compared to the heat stressed control animals. Seminal plasma total lipids, cholesterol and triglycerides increased while alkaline phosphatase decreased with PP treatments. Seminal plasma total antioxidant capacity increased to reach 126, 143 and 191% with diets containing 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5% of PP, while lipid peroxide (malondialdehyde) levels decreased significantly to reach around 54% of the heat stressed bucks' value with the three PP dietary doses used. It was concluded that supplementations of PP in the diet of bucks during summer season in Egypt can improve their semen characteristics, probably due to their antioxidant actions.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of dietary pomegranate peel (PP; 9.61% crude protein and 13.1% crude fibre) on reproductive performance and milk yield of heat-stressed rabbit does. Forty-eight V-line rabbit does with average initial live body weight of 3.59±0.11 kg (2 nd parity; 9 mo old) were divided into 4 treatment groups (12 does per group). The first group was fed diet free of PP. The second, third and fourth groups were fed diets containing 0.75, 1.5 and 3.0% PP, respectively, included in substitution of clover hay from the basal diet. Feed of the 4 groups was free of added antioxidants. The studied traits were: kindling rate, gestation period, litter size, litter weight, kit weight at both birth and weaning (28 d of lactation) for the last 3 parameters, pre-weaning mortality and milk yield. Range of temperatures and relative humidity during the experimental period in the rabbitry varied between 27.5-33.5°C and 64-76%, respectively. The inclusion of PP quadratically affected litter size at birth (P<0.001) and weaning (P<0.01), as well as milk yield (P<0.001). However, it tended to reduce the kit milk intake in most lactation periods (P=0.078), leading to a linear reduction in individual kit weight at weaning (P=0.060). In conclusion, supplementations of PP in the diet of does during summer season in Egypt can improve their productivity.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of including marine and freshwater algae in rabbit diets on their performance, digestibility, carcass characteristics, and blood metabolites. One hundred growing male rabbits, aged 30 d and weighing 783.5 ± 2.01 g initial body weight, were randomly assigned to five treatment groups (n ¼ 20 rabbits). Five comparable dietary groups were formulated as follows: the control diet was a basal diet without aquatic plants inclusion, while the diets for the other four treatments included the basal diet plus 4% of marine algae (U. lactuca and P. capillacea) or freshwater algae (S. polyrrhiza and C. aegagropila). Compared with the control group, final body weight, daily weight gain, and feed conversion ratio improved significantly in UL group; followed by those in PC and SP groups (p < .05). Total digestible nutrients and digestible crude protein increased significantly in UL, PC and SP groups. Rabbits in the CA group had lower nitrogen intake, N digested, and N balance decreased than the other groups (p < .05). The UL group had dressing weight and meat protein significant increases, but the SP and CA groups had significant increases in liver, kidney, and spleen weights (p < .05). Including marine and freshwater algae reduced (p < .05) total lipids, total bilirubin, triglycerides, and cholesterol especially in the UL and PC groups, and similarly, HDL and LDL levels were lower in the UL, PC, and SP groups compared to the CA and control groups. In conclusion, the responses in performance, digestibility, and blood metabolites suggest that aquatic plants (with the exception of CA) have the potential to be a sustainable feedstock for growing rabbits' diets. HIGHLIGHTSUlva lactuca, Pterocladia capillacea and Spirodela polyrrhiza improve rabbits' performance. Marine and freshwater algae inclusion showed no signs of disease. Marine and freshwater algae reduced total lipids, triglycerides, and cholesterol.

total of seventy-two V-line rabbits of both sexes, 5 weeks old, with initial weights of 639.4 ±.25.97 g were used for the study. Rabbits were randomly allocated to 6 treatment groups, each of which included 4 replicates of 3 rabbits. The experiment lasted for 6 weeks to be finished at 11 weeks of age and dietary treatments were as follows: 1) Control (basal diet); 2) basal diet+ 100 mg/kg antibiotictylosin; 3) basal diet+ 0.5 g /kg turmeric (as a source of curcumin); 4) basal diet+ 1.0 g/kg turmeric; 5) basal diet+ 0.5 g/kg cinnamon; 6) basal diet+ 1.0 g /kg cinnamon. The results showed that there were significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences in body weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio among treatments and the control group. The highest body weight and weight gain values and the best feed conversion ratio were recorded in the groups given 1.0 g /kg diet turmeric or cinnamon. The highest feed intake values were observed in the control and Tyrosin fed groups, while the lowest feed intake values was recorded in cinnamon fed group. Tylosin, cinnamon and turmeric supplementation significantly (P ≤ 0.05) improved digestibility of DM, OM, CP, CF, EE and NFE and also, improved the nutritive values of nutrients as TDN and DCP in comparison with control. General significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in RBCs, Hb and PCV % due to the different feed additives in comparison with control group. Serum lipid profile improved by phytogenic feed additives compared with tylosin and control groups. Phytogenic feed additives reduced Malondialdehyde (P ≤ 0.05), while, increased total antioxidant capacity concentrations and glutathione peroxidase activities. Immunostimulatory effects of phytogenic feed additives were recorded. In conclusion, we state that cinnamon and turmeric could have beneficial effects on performance, digestibility, immunomodulatory and play an important role as an exogenous antioxidant.Keywords: Rabbits, cinnamon and turmeric, antibiotic, performance, immunity and blood lipid profile. 1 Vit+Min mixture provides per kilogram contains: Vit A 6000 IU; Vit D 3 450 IU; Vit E 40 mg; Vit K 3 1 mg; Vit B 1 1 mg; Vit B 2 3 mg; Vit B 3 180 mg; Vit B 6 39 mg; Vit B 12 2.5 mg; Pantothenic acid 10 mg; biotin 10 mg; folic acid 2.5 mg; choline chloride 1200 mg; Manganese 15 mg; Zinc 35 mg; Iron 38 mg; Copper 5 mg; Selenium 0.1 mg; Iodine 0.2 mg; Selenium 0.05 mg. 2 Analyzed values according to AOAC (1995). Fekete and Gippert (1986) using the following equation: DE (kcal/ kg DM) = 4253 -32.6 (CF %) -144.4 (total ash). DE calculated according to

Prickly pear cactus peels (Opuntia ficus-indica, PPCP) are sustainable byproducts available in arid regions and a rich source of antioxidants. Fifteen multiparous Barki ewes (2–3 years old, 46.94 ± 0.59 kg body weight, BW) at postpartum were individually distributed in three equal groups and fed diets supplemented with PPCP at doses of 0, 5 and 10 g/head/day. Lambs were individually distributed into three equal groups according to their mothers’ groups to investigate the maternal effect on lambs’ growth performance, hematology and serum metabolites. This trial lasted for 56 days from birth to weaning. Moreover, nine adult male Barki sheep with a live BW of 65.76 ± 0.54 kg were randomly allocated into three equal groups to determine the effect of PPCP on the nutrient digestibility of the experimental diets. The results indicate that supplementing PPCP at low levels (5 g/head/day) increased milk yield (p = 0.050), fat-corrected milk (p = 0.022), energy-corrected milk (p = 0.015) and the yield of milk constituents compared to 10 g PPCP and the control group. In addition, lambs suckling from ewes fed the diet supplemented with 5 g PPCP had a higher (p = 0.001) weaning BW compared to other groups. Serum total protein, globulin, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase enzyme activities and the triiodothyronine hormone improved significantly in lambs suckling from ewes fed diets supplemented with 5 g PPCP compared to the control group. Serum cholesterol profile and kidney activities were enhanced significantly in lambs suckling from ewes fed diets supplemented with 5 and 10 g of PPCP compared to the control group. The dietary supplementation of 5 g PPCP improved the crude protein digestibility, digestible crude protein value, nitrogen balance and rumen fermentation characteristics of male sheep compared to the control group. In conclusion, supplementation with 5 g PPCP improved ewes’ milk production, offspring growth and physiological status. Furthermore, it improved the crude protein digestibility and rumen fermentation characteristics of Barki sheep.

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Abstract:The high unsaturation levels of spermatozoal membrane make it very susceptible to oxidative damage and this problem increases with advancing age. In this study, the aim is to investigate whether parsley seed (PS) has a protective effect on semen quality, serum lipid profile and antioxidative status of old and young bucks. Male rabbits (n= 36) (18 young 9-12 mo old and 18 old 36-42 mo old) were each assigned to 3 dietary treatments (a control and 2 levels of PS: 0.3 and 0.6 kg/100 kg diet) to evaluate the ability of parsley to enhance bucks' reproductive status. Most of the studied traits were adversely affected by age of rabbit bucks. On the other hand, the inclusion of PS significantly boosted ejaculate volume and improved mass motility concentration and total sperm output. Seminal plasma and blood serum total antioxidant capacity increased, while serum lipid peroxidase decreased with parsley treatments. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of parsley seed alleviates most semen quality parameters and counteracts oxidative stress, especially with the advance of age (seminal plasma and blood serum of total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde.