Dietary supplementation of quebracho and chestnut tannins mix in rabbit: effects on live performances, digestibility, carcase traits, antioxidant status, faecal microbial load and economic value

Abstract

The effects of dietary supplementation of tannins mix (quebracho and chestnut) in rabbit diet were evaluated for productive performances, health parameters and digestibility in order to quantify their practical utilisation in the rearing system. One-hundred and twenty Martini group hybrid rabbits of 30 days old were fed four different diets for 60 days. The diets were formulated as: basal diet (negative control, C), basal diet supplemented by 0.3% of tannins mix (T0.3), basal diet supplemented by 0.6% of tannins mix (T0.6) and basal diet supplemented with coccidiostat (positive control, CC). Live performances did not show any significant differences, moreover, no significant differences were observed for all carcase traits except for gastrointestinal tract (p ¼ .015, lowest values for T0.3 diet). Also, digestibility of the feed and faecal microbial load was not influenced by tannins addition. Slight differences between the diets were detected in catalase and glutathione peroxidase concentrations in plasma, as a common trend was revealed with higher values of C than the other diets. From an economical point of view, T0.3 diet showed to be more profitable than CC and T0.6. Tannins addition might be taken into account as potential feed additive in rabbit feeds, as it does not affect negatively the productive performances, digestibility and induce a slight increase of antioxidant status. HIGHLIGHTS On an economical point of view tannin diet showed to be more profitable than a diet added with coccidiostat. Addition of tannins in rabbits' feed did not affect negatively productive performances and digestibility. Tannins represent a valuable feed additive in rabbit farming as a slightly increase of antioxidant status was induced.

Carcass and meat quality of rabbits fed Tithonia tubaeformis weed

“…These findings are similar to those reported by Fathi et al (2019), who found that eucalyptus leaves did not affect dressing and fore or hind parts of the rabbit carcass. Similar results were found in slaughter traits of rabbits fed diet supplemented with ginger powder (Mancini et al, 2018), quebracho and chestnut (Mancini et al, 2019), or garlic and turmeric powder (Alagawany et al, 2016) as growth promoters.…”

“…Hinojosa Dávalos et al (2013) reported that Tithonia tubaeformis contains antioxidant compounds such as phenols and flavonoids. Some studies reported that pH was not affected by diets supplemented with ginger powder (Mancini et al, 2018), quercetin (North et al, 2018, Amarantus dubius (Molina et al, 2018), and quebracho and chestnut tannin mix (Mancini et al, 2019). However, Cullere et al (2016) added Silybum marianum to rabbit feed and found an increase in pH values, which is supposedly linked to glycolytic metabolism in the muscle intermediated by silibinin presence in Silybum marianum.…”

The Effects of Tannins in Monogastric Animals with Special Reference to Alternative Feed Ingredients

“…According to [ 83 ], rabbits fed diets with 4% of tanniniferous browsers of Acacia karroo, Acacia nilotica and Acacia tortilis showed no significant differences in intake and digestibility. Mancini et al [ 84 ] also reported no significant difference in growth rate, feed intake or feed conversion ratio and carcass traits of rabbits fed a mixture of quebracho and chestnut tannins. Moreover, [ 85 ] observed no significant difference in growth rate, feed intake or feed conversion ratio of rabbits fed low-tannin sorghum grains.…”

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

“…There is a large variation in the chemical composition of the Eucalyptus species. The highest percentages of essential oils in the leaves of Eucalyptus are 1,8- 63]. Many studies have shown that eucalyptus oil and leaves can be used to improve productive, immunological, and physiological traits in humans [64,65], poultry [59,66,67], and ruminants [68].…”