Effect of diet supplemented with pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) and black seed (Nigella sativa) oils on performance of rabbits: 2-productive and reproductive performance of does and their offspring

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Abstract: Thirty six New Zealand white (NZW) doe rabbits with initial body weight of 1445.2±39.4 g and aged 12 weeks were used in a complete randomized design experiment with four dietary treatments. Does were fed commercial diet without additive (control, G1), or supplemented with 5 g pumpkin seed (PS) oil/kg diet (G2), 5 g black seed (BS) oil/kg (G3), 2.5 g PS oil plus 2.5 g BS oil/kg (G4). Rabbit does in G4 showed the highest (P<0.05) body weight (BW) and average daily gain at the different age intervals, followed by those in G2 and G3, while does in G1 had the lowest weights. Does in G4 showed significantly (P<0.05) the highest values of BW at mating and parturition, the 1st service conception rate and the lowest number of services per conception, followed by those in G2 and G3, while does in G1 had the poorest values. Does in G2, G3 and G4 increased average daily milk yield (as overall for the suckling period) by 9.57, 20.00 and 27.63% compared with G1, respectively. Milk of does in G4 showed significantly (P<0.05) the highest percentages of fat, protein, lactose, total solids and solids not fat, followed by milk of does in G2 and G3, while milk of G1 had the lowest percentages. In blood serum of does, G4 showed significantly (P<0.05) the highest concentrations of total protein and globulin, while those in G2 showed significantly (P<0.05) the highest albumin and glucose concentrations. Does in G1 showed significantly (P<0.05) the highest total lipids, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL concentrations. Activity of AST and ALT was not affected by supplementation. The concentrations of prolactin and thyroxine (T4) hormones were higher in G4, while triiodothyroninehormone (T3) was higher in G3. The concentrations of lgG and lgM in serum of both does and their offspring were the highest in G4 as compared to other groups, but the differences were not significant. Does in G3 showed the highest litter size at birth, but those in G4 showed the highest (P<0.05) litter size at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of suckling period. Bunnies of G1 showed the highest (P<0.05) mortality rate, followed by those in G2 and G3, while G4 had the lowest rate. Does in G2 showed the heaviest (P<0.05) litter weight at birth, while G4 had the highest litter weight at 28 days of suckling period. Bunnies of G3 and G4 recorded the heaviest (P<0.05) litter weight gain for the whole suckling period. Bunnies in G2 showed significantly (P<0.05) the highest BW and weight gain during the different suckling periods, while the lowest weight gain was recorded for bunnies in G1. Pumpkin and black seeds oils supplementation improved economic efficiency of does and their offspring, which net revenue of G2, G3 and G4 increased by 9.77, 25.23 and 34.75% compared with G1, respectively. Doe rabbits fed diet supplemented with a combination of pumpkin and black seeds oils (2.5 g PS oil plus 2.5 g BS oil/kg) and their offspring showed the best results.
Keywords: NZW rabbits, pumpkin, black seed, reproduction, offspring growth.

Publication year

2013

Pages

346-362

Availability location

معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى- الجيزة

Availability number

Organization Name

Animal Production Research Institute (APRI)

City

كفر الشيخ

serial title