Influence of Using Natural Feed Additives on Some Reproductive and Productive Performance of Doe Rabbits.

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of different levels of dietary supplementation of rocket (Eruca Sativa) seeds, carrot (Daucus Carota L) seeds or bay laurel (Bay laurel Nobilis L)., leaves and their mixed between them on some reproductive and productive traits, antioxidant status of doe rabbits and their offspring's, during the pregnancy and lactation periods, under the same conditions.Forty eight New Zealand White (NZW) doe rabbits about 6-7 months old (2.890-3.070 kg) were randomly allotted to eight dietary groups (6 rabbits in each treatment group). The first group was fed a basal diet as control group,(T1); while the experimental second to eighth groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 1.0% rocket seed (T2); 1.0% carrot seed (T3); 1.0% bay laurel leaf (T4); 0.5% rocket seed+0.5% carrot seed (T5); 0.5% carrot seed+0.5% bay laurel leaf (T6); 0.5% rocket seed+0.50% bay laurel leaf (T7) and 0.33% rocket seed+0.33% carrot seed+0.33% bay laurel leaf (T8), respectively. The experimental period lasted for 16 weeks. Live body weights of does before and after parturition days and at first day of lactation were significantly higher (P=0.05, 0.002 and 0.01) in all treated rabbits as compared to control group respectively, while the response of does live body weights at weaning day was not significant. All treated groups had significantly higher total feed intake during pregnancy and lactation when compared to the control group. During pregnancy constantly plasma, antioxidant capacity and endogenous antioxidant enzymes in terms of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were higher in treated groups compared to the control group, however the effect was significant in some treated groups. Hence, lipid peroxidation in terms of TBARs was significantly reduced in all treated groups 464 BASYONY & AZOZ compared to control. Metabolic and sex hormones (T3 and E2) were significantly leveled up in all treated groups, while the effect on progesterone (P4) hormone was significantly higher for some treatments. During lactation period weekly and total milk yield were higher in treated groups. The improvement of milk yield was significant increased in T3, T4, T7 and T8 compared to the control group. During lactation period data on plasma antioxidant, constituents and hormones followed the same trends as in these concerning pregnancy periods, where treated groups surpassed the control group and favored the parameters evaluated. Litter size and weight at weaning significantly (P=0.01 and 0.004) increased for all feed additives compared to control, respectively. The same trends were observed in litters weight gain fed diets supplemented with different feed additives. Means of pre-weaning survival rate (%) from birth to weaning age in the treatments groups were better significantly than control group. Conclusively, the findings of this study demonstrated that dietary supplementation of feed additives rocket seeds and carrot seeds or Bay leaves individually or in combinations improved reproducti...

Physiological Response, Semen Quality and Blood Biochemical Parameters of Rabbit Bucks Supplemented With Phytogenic Components During Summer Season of Egypt

“…So, the opposite influence was observed in regard to TAC, where the values were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) augmented with an addition of additive-containing three types of plant products. These results were connected with Basyony and Azoz (2017) who reported that dietary supplementation of rocket (Eruca Sativa) seeds, carrot (Daucus Carota L) seeds or bay laurel leaves (Bay laurel Nobilis L), and their mixture improved significantly the antioxidant status of doe rabbits and their offspring's, during the pregnancy and lactation periods. In addition, Casamassima, et al (2017) stated that serum levels of MDA were reduced in rabbits received a diet containing one g per kg of dried bay leaves (Laurus nobilis) in feed besides 2.5% pig fat than in rabbits fed 2.5% pig fat alone.…”

Effect of Some Medical Herbs on Productive Performance of Lactating Zaraibi Goats

“…Specifically, rosemary oil exhibits an effective antioxidant activity due to its containing of considerable amounts of limonene, -pinene, camphor, and (Z)-linalool oxide (Jayasena and Jo, 2014). The obtained results are in agreement with those recorded by Basyony and Azoz (2017) who reported that dietary supplementation of bay laurel leaves improved significantly the antioxidant status of doe rabbits during the pregnancy and lactation periods as well as their offsprings. Similarly, Abdel-Azeem et al (2018) showed that bay laurel leaves markedly increased seminal plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) for New Zealand White rabbit's bucks.…”

Climate Changes Effects on Rabbit Production

“…The mortality rate from birth up to weaning increased significantly with the increase in ambient temperature from 19.5°C in January to 34.8°C in July and the lowest and highest mortality rate values were recorded on the 1 st week in January and on the 4 th week in July, respectively (Habeeb et al, 1999). The averages of pre-weaning mortality rates were found to be as high as 71.9% in summer and 27.3% in winter (Bassuny, 1999). During the post-weaning phase, the mortality rate was 18% in summer while no mortality was recorded during winter (Habeeb et al, 1999).…”