Long-Term Impacts of Nitrate in Feed of Rabbits on the Hematological Parameters and Ameliorate Its Effect by Using Vitamin C

Abstract

This study conducted to investigate the effect of nitrate and vitamin C infeed of the females rabbits on the haematological parameters. Twenty-eight adult New-Zealand females rabbits were divided randomly into four groups of 7 rabbits each, were fed nitrate and vitamin C 16 weeks as follow; Group 1 (G1) fed nitrate (170 mg/ kg B.W./ daily),Group 2 (G2) fed nitrate (170 mg/ kg B.W./ daily) and vitamin C (50 mg / kg B.W./ daily), Group 3 (G3): fed nitrate (170 mg/ kg B.W./ daily) and vitamin C (100 mg / kg B.W./ daily) and Group 4 (G4) fed a basal ration as control group. The results showed a significant decreased (P<0.05) in hematological parameters (WBC, RBC, PCV and Hb) in the group that fed nitrate (G1) compared with control group and groups that supplied vitamin C (G4, G2 and G3), whereas the groups that fed vitamin C showed a significant decreased (P<0.05) compared with the control group (G4). From results concluded, the nitrate has inhibition impact on the hematological parameters, while vitamin C decrease this effect.