Productive and Reproductive Performances of New Zealand White Doe Rabbits as Affected by Nigella Sativa Oil Supplementation under Hot and Mild Conditions in Egypt

Abstract

Aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of nigella sativa oil (NSO) supplementation under hot and mild Egyptian conditions, on physiological thermoregulatory response, blood components, gestation length, feed and water consumption during gestation and suckling period, litter size and weight at each of birth, 21 d and 30 d (weaning) of age and mortality rate of pups from birth to 30 days of age. Thirty New Zealand White (NZW) adult doe rabbits (15 in hot season and 15 in mild season) aged 6 months and weighed 2935.4 g were used. Results showed that feed intake, water consumption, rectal temperature, respiration rate, litter size and weight at birth, 21 d, weaning, pre-weaning mortality rate were affected significantly (P<0.01), while the gestation period, serum total proteins , albumin, globulin, urea and creatinine were not affected significantly by season. Supplementation the doe rabbits diet with NSO (30 g oil / kg diet) significantly improved litter size and weight at birth (P<0.01 and P<0.05), at 21 d and at weaning (P<0.05), while pre-weaning mortality rate, gestation period, feed intake, water intake, rectal temperature, respiration rate, serum total protein, albumin, globulin, urea and creatinine concentrations in blood plasma of does were not affected.It could be concluded that, feeding doe rabbits during the hot season with dietary supplementation of 30 g Nigella sativa oil/kg diet is very effective on productive and reproductive performances of rabbits.

Effects of Heat Stress on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, Physiological Components, and Biochemical Parameters in Local Algerian Growing Rabbits

“…Rabbits are very sensitive to high temperatures (above 25-30°C) since they have few functional sweat glands limiting their ability to eliminate excess body heat (Adelodun, 2015;Abd El-Monem et al, 2016, Mousa-Balabel et al, 2017, in addition to their perspiration being hindered by their fur (Marai et al, 2001). When animals are exposed to high temperatures above 25-30°C, their body temperature rises.…”

“…These responses make the heart work hard and result in the body's loss of salt and water through perspiration and urination, affecting the rabbit's efficiency, and causing haemo-concentration (Farghly et al, 2021;Oladimeji et al, 2022). Exposing rabbits to severe heat stress activates physiological mechanisms to balance the excessive heat load, leading to an increase in the thermoregulatory parameters (Adelodun et al, 2015;Jimoh and Ewuola, 2016;Abd El-Monem et al, 2016).…”