Productive and Physiological Response of Male Rabbits to Dietary Supplementation with Thyme Essential Oil

Abstract

The present study aimed at assessing the efficiency of thyme essential oil (TEO) as an alternative to antibiotics for improving the productive performance and serum metabolic profile of male rabbits. A total of one hundred and fifty 70-day-old male Californian rabbits were assigned to five dietary treatments, including a basal diet as a negative control (NC), a basal diet supplemented with an antibiotic as a positive control (PC), and a basal diet supplemented with 60, 120, or 180 mg/kg of TEO. The experiment period lasted for 60 days. Supplementation of TEO levels significantly (P < 0.01) increased daily body weight gain and improved feed conversion ratio of male Californian rabbits compared to NC and PC groups. Similarly, the TEO remarkably enhanced the semen characteristics of rabbits compared to NC and PC groups. Supplementation of TEO significantly decreased aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, urea, and creatinine compared with NC and PC groups. Supplementation with TEO increased serum testosterone concentration compared to NC and PC treatments. Our data demonstrate that TEO levels up to 180 mg/kg can play a major role as an alternative to dietary antibiotics, in improving the productive performance, semen quality, testosterone levels, and the kidney and liver functions in California male rabbits.

Moringa oleifera Leaves as Eco-Friendly Feed Additive in Diets of Hy-Line Brown Hens during the Late Laying Period

“…The maximum percentage that was used in our study was 0.9% far lower than the other reported studies. The inconsistencies in the results of these studies may be due to the use of different bird strains, age, animal production stage, plant parts, agroclimatic conditions, herb compositions, addition levels, application and cultivation methods [ 3 , 5 , 17 ]. There are also studies that used variable doses of supplementation and used plant parts, such as seeds, leaves, extracts, or active compounds.…”

“…Phytogenics are one of the explored alternatives to feed antibiotics in laying hens because of their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities and positive effects on productive performance [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Some studies illustrated and proved phytogenic applications in poultry nutrition [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ] to be beneficial in enhancing productive performances and health status of laying hens. Higher excreta ammonia production reduces the productive and health status of chickens [ 11 , 12 ], increases chicken mortalities by increasing susceptibility of birds to infections [ 11 , 13 ], impair human health and act as a major aerial pollutant [ 14 , 15 , 16 ].…”

Changes in the Antioxidant and Mineral Status of Rabbits After Administration of Dietary Zinc and/or Thyme Extract

“…In contrast, treatment with thyme aqueous extract (50 mg/kg b.w.) or dietary thyme essential oil resulted in a significant increase in daily body weight gain of rabbits and improved feed conversion ratio compared to control animals (38,39).…”

Effect of Using Biogen as a Feed Additive on Productive and Reproductive Performance of Rabbits

“…In addition, semen volume, sperm motility, sperm concentration, and sperm livability significantly increased (p < 0.05) in rabbits received aqueous thyme extract with 50 mg/kg compared to the control (Kandeil et al, 2019). Ahmed et al (2020) stated that the levels of thyme essential oil up to 180 mg/kg as alternative to antibiotics in California male rabbits' diets can play a major role in enhancing its semen quality. El-Shamaa (2002) found that crossbred ram lambs (1/2 Romanov x 1/2 Rahmani) fed yeast culture (YC) at the rate of 0.05 and 0.025% of live body weight produced higher percentages of motile and live spermatozoa, sperm cell concentration and survival rate of spermatozoa, but lower values of sperm abnormalities than the control.…”