Effect of Spirulina Algae Levels Supplements on The productive and Reproductive Performance of Doe Rabbits

Abstract

T HIS STUDY was conducted to assess the effects of the supplement at different levels of spirulina platensis (SP) on the productive and reproductive performance of doe rabbits. Forty doe rabbits aged eight months with an average live body weight of 2870±26g were randomly divided into four identical experimental groups according to their live body weight (ten rabbits each). The control group (T1) received a basal diet without a supplement. The other groups (T2, T3, and T4) received the same basal diet supplemented with Spirulina at rates of 0.5, 1, and 1.5 g/h/d, respectively. The obtained results indicated that all nutrient digestibility, feed intake, feed conversion, and milk yield were significantly (p<0.05) increased with increasing SP levels. Supplementation of SP significantly (p<0.05) improved some of the rabbits' productive and reproductive performance, which included conception rate, litter size and weight at birth, and weaning, as well as the mortality rate. Administration of the SP supplement had no effect on serum total protein, aspartate amino transferase and immunoglobulin G levels. However, the increase in SP levels in the T3, and T4 groups resulted in significantly (p<0.05) higher serum albumin and immunoglobulin M levels and significantly lower serum globulin, urea, creatinine, and alanine amino transferase levels than those in the T2 and T1 groups. Overall, the findings indicated that supplements at rates of 0.5, 1 and 1.5 g/h/d of spirulina to doe rabbit diets improved their health status, nutrient digestibility, productivity, some reproductive performance and economic efficiency, with superiority for 1.5 g/h/d.