Antioxidant Status and Productive Performance of Pregnant Rabbit Does as Affected by Aloe Vera Leaves Powder Supplementation

Abstract

The current study has been conducted in Rabbit Research Unite in Sakha Station, located in Kafr El-Sheikh governorate. Using 24 of New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit does aged between 8-10 months and their average initial body weight was 3377 ± 36.7g. Divided into four groups, G1 was served as control group and fed on commercial pellets with no any additions. The other three groups, G2, G3 and G4 fed on diets supplemented with Aloe Vera (AV) powder at levels 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg diet, respectively.The results showed that, rabbits subjected to severe heat stress during months of July, August and September (THI= 30.5, 31.8 and 29.9, respectively). While, the corresponding value of THI during October and November month value was 27.7 and 24.7, respectively, indicated moderate and no heat stress. The antioxidant status was in overall, higher in TAC levels with lower levels of MDA in supplemented groups with AV than that in the control one. During summer season, litter size at birth and weaning age was lower in G1 (6.2 ± 0.33 and 4.3± 0.33, respectively) compared to supplemented groups. The G3 was the highest group in litter size, recorded 7.0 ± 0.33 at birth vs. 6.8± 0.33 and 6.7± 0.33 in G2 and G4, respectively. Whilst, in autumn litter size was not differed between groups and they almost close to each other. Furthermore, AV, during summer season, especially at level 1g/kg diet (G3), helped rabbit does to deliver their kits with higher body weight (280.8± 12.7 g) than that in other groups. At weaning age, those kits (of G3) recorded the highest body weight, 2450.8± 71.8 than that in G1, G2 and G4. In autumn, no significant differences in kits body weight at birth, day 21 of lactation and weaning age were found among experimental groups. In the same line, no significant differences between groups in kits body weight gain and milk conversion ratio 136 ENAYAT ABO EL-AZAYEM et al.in both seasons summer and autumn. Moreover, enhances the antioxidant status of NZW rabbit does (TAC and MDA) especially in G4. Conclusively, the G4 was the best group in most of the studied parameters (litter weight, milk production, lower mortality rate, with higher TAC and lower MDA) than the other three groups.