Effect of crude propolis on the performance and feed digestibility of new zealand white rabbits

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and digestibility of diets containing different levels of crude propolis for growing rabbits. Forty-eight New Zealand White rabbits, 43 days old, of both genders, were used, distributed in a completely randomized design. There were four diets with different inclusion levels of crude propolis (0.0; 0.5; 1.0 and 1.5%). There was no statistical difference for performance regarding the inclusion levels of crude propolis (p = 0.85), as well as for the variables dry matter consumption, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber (p ≥ 0.07). Crude protein consumption showed a statistical difference in relation to gender (p = 0.04): males showed higher consumption. However, final weight, total weight gain, daily weight gain and feed efficiency were not influenced by the addition of crude propolis (p ≥ 0.37). Dry matter digestibility, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber were not influenced by the inclusion levels of crude propolis in the diets (p ≥ 0.12). This study indicates that the inclusion of raw propolis up to 1.5% in the diets does not affect the performance parameters of rabbits.

Effect of propolis supplementation and breed on growth performance, immunity, blood parameters and cecal microbiota in growing rabbits

“…Although the body weight gain was not statistically different among treatment groups, we found a numerically increase (4% and 8%) in groups receiving 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg propolis, respectively compared to those in the control group. This result is in harmony with the findings of Piza et al [23], who found that the inclusion of crude propolis at a level of 1.5% insignificantly increased the total weight gain at 75 days of age by about 162 g compared to unsupplemented New Zealand rabbits. No difference in body weight of New Zealand White rabbits fed a diet supplemented with ethanolic propolis extract was also found [24].…”

“…Administration of propolis in combination with bee pollen significantly improved the growing performance of rabbits rather than using propolis alone [15]. In terms of feed utilization, Piza et al [23] reported that the inclusion of crude propolis up to 1.5% did not affect the feed efficiency or diet digestibility in New Zealand rabbits. However, there are a lot of discrepancy in the results of using propolis in animal feeding that might be related to the dosage administration, chemical composition, breed, age, and gender.…”

Improving productivity in rabbits by using some natural feed additives under hot environmental conditions — A review

“…This difference may be due to the dosage added or chemical composition of propolis. On the other hand, many scientific authors reported that there were no significant effects on the body weight of rabbits as a result of propolis supplementation [97,120,121]. The same trend was found in the case of feed utilization, where [97] reported that adding crude propolis did not affect the feed efficiency or diet digestibility in New Zealand rabbits.…”

“…Propolis is considered one of the natural feed additives. It is a complex of resinous substances collected by honeybees from different parts of plants, such as buds, flowers, leaf buds, branches, barks, exudates, and wax [95][96][97]. The main sources of propolis are pouplar trees in North America, Europe, Asia, and the northern regions of KSA and Egypt [91,98]; Baccharis dracunculifolia leaf in Brazil; Betula verrucosa in Russia [99,100]; and Clusia rosea in Cuba [98,101,102].…”