Struggling Thermal Stress Impacts on Growth Performance and Health Status of Newly Weaned Rabbits Using Nanoemulsion of Origanum majorana Considering the Economic Efficiency of Supplementation

Abstract

With the recent trend of global warming, HS-instigated diminishing could extremely jeopardize animal health, productivity, and farm profit. Marjoram essential oil (MEOE) is a worthy source of wide range phytogenic compounds that may improve heat tolerance, redox and inflammatory homeostasis, and immunity of newly weaned rabbits, specifically if included in the diets in a nano form. One hundred newly weaned rabbits were randomly distributed into four homogeneous groups. The first group (control group) included rabbits that received basal diet without supplementation. In contrast, the other three groups included rabbits that received basal diets supplemented with 200 (MEONE200), 400 (MEONE400), and 800 (MEONE800) mg MEONE/kg diet, respectively. Among MEONE-treated groups and control groups, MEONE400 group showed the highest (p < 0.001) growth performance traits, including final body weight, average daily gain, feed efficiency, and the performance index. Compared to the control, all MEONE-supplemented groups possessed lower rectal temperatures and respiration rates, recording the lowest values in the MEONE400 group. The oxidative stress biomarkers and immunoglobulins G and M were significantly improved in the MEONE400 and MEONE800 compared with the control and MEONE200 groups. The addition of MEONE (400 or 800 mg/kg) decreased the concentrations of serum interleukin-4 (p = 0.0003), interferon gamma (p = 0.0004), and tumor necrosis factor-α (p < 0.0001) but significantly elevated (p < 0.001) the activity of nitric oxide, amyloid A and lysozyme. Liver functions (lower concentrations of liver enzymes) were significantly improved in all MEONE-treated groups compared to the control group. There was a considerable significant effect of dietary supplementation of MEONE400 on economic efficiency. In conclusion, the addition of 400 mg/kg to the diets of newly weaned rabbits can be recommended as an affective intervention to mitigate the negative impacts of HS.

The Influence of a Nanoemulsion of Cardamom Essential Oil on the Growth Performance, Feed Utilization, Carcass Characteristics, and Health Status of Growing Rabbits under a High Ambient Temperature

“…The above results indicate that the better growth performance of the NCEO-supplemented rabbits was achieved by enhancing the defeasibility of nutrients, which provide available energy for growth and heat dissipation from the body. In this study, the NCEO300 and NCEO600 groups had a higher FBW, ADG, SGR, and PI and a lower FCR than the control and other treated groups, which is in general agreement with the findings of former studies [ 36 , 40 ]. They reported that the dietary supplementation of rabbit diets with nano-emulsified essential oils enhanced their growth performance and feed utilization.…”

“…Rabbits have few numbers of sweat glands, mainly under their feet and on their lips. These sweat glands are not effective at regulating exceeded body temperature, particularly in hot conditions, which makes them more sensitive to HS, which has adverse effects on their welfare, adaptation, feed efficiency, growth performance, redox status, inflammatory response, and health status [ 7 , 35 , 36 ], and also disrupts the fertility traits in rabbit does [ 7 ] and bucks [ 37 ]. The temperature–humidity index (THI) can be useful for assessing the risk of HS on rabbits induced by hot environments [ 38 ].…”

“…Concerning general health status, HS is involved in shrinking newly weaned rabbits’ immune capacity, due to its ability to promote the synthesis of immunological variables such as IgM, IgA, and IgG [ 36 ]. Further, the impairment of the immune response could make growing rabbits more sensitive to pathogens [ 58 , 59 ].…”

The Influence of Artichoke Aqueous extract on the growth performance, feed utilization, carcass characteristics, and health status of growing rabbits

“…At the end of the experiment (12 weeks), a total of 12 rabbits (n = 3 in each treatment) were randomly chosen and fasted for 12 hours before slaughter according to El-Raghi et al (2023). Then, the rabbits were individually weighed and the pre-slaughter weight was recorded.…”

Oregano Essential Oil in Livestock and Veterinary Medicine

“…Oregano essential oil can inhibit methane production in rumen of beef cattle [ 14 ]. Adding oregano oil to feed can improve the performance of rabbits, chickens and dairy cows [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ].…”