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Effect of L-carnitine preparation in drinking water on some productive and reproductive performance of new rabbits
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Abstract: Four hundreds and twenty-four New-Zealand White rabbits was used in the present study to evaluate some productive and reproductive capabilities of growing and mature rabbits as affected by solar (natural) or artificial dried berseem in the diets.
The present study included two Experiments, The first Experiment was lasted 40 days and carried out during growing period on 240 weaned New-Zealand White rabbits aged 30 days. The second Experiment was lasted 4 months and carried out on 160 multiparous does and 24 sexual mature bucks of New-Zealand White rabbits aged nine months.
All animals in two Experiments were divided into two equal comparable experimental groups (120 growing rabbits, 12 bucks and 80 does in two sequence parities in each group). The first group was kept untreated (control), while the other group was supplemented in the drinking water with L-carnitine preparation (Carmecol) at level 1 mil /L twice a week, during the experimental period. The pelleted rations fed to the experimental animals were covering the nutritional requirements of the growing and mature phase of rabbits according to NRC (1994) recommendations.
The results obtained revealed that, daily body weight gain and feed efficiency values of growing NZW rabbits supplemented in the drinking water with L-carnitine preparation were significantly (P<0.05) higher and feed conversion values were significantly 1064 Effect of L-Carnitine Preparation in Drinking Water on Some Productive (P<0.05) lower, as well as, daily feed intake was insignificantly higher than those of control group. Drinking water supplemented with L-carnitine preparation increased significantly (P<0.05) dressing percentage and carcass and internal organs weight represented by weights of each of spleen; kidneys; liver; heart and lungs, as well as, blood picture of growing NZW rabbits represented by (red and white blood cells count; hemoglobin concentration and hematocrite percentage) and some blood constitute such plasma total protein and its fractions (albumin; globulin and albumin! globulin ratio). Some enzymes indicated liver activity of growing NZW rabbits represented by values of each of glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) also increased significantly (P<0.05) due to supplementation of L-carnitine preparation in the drinking water.
Supplementing L-carnitine preparation in the drinking water of the NZW rabbit bucks improved significantly (P<0.05) their reproductive capability represented by libido and physical semen quality (semen-ejaculate volume; advanced-sperm motility; live and normal spermatozoa; acrosome status and sperm-cell concentration per ml and per ejaculate); gonads and pituitary gland weight; scrotal circumference and testicular index. Testosterone concentration and mating activity of NZW rabbit bucks drank water supplemented with L-carnitine preparation were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those of drank free L-carnitine preparation (control group).
New-Zealand White rabbit does drank water contained L-carnitine and mated naturally by using bucks drank the same treated water recorded kindling rate, litter size and weight at birth; milk yield and pre-weaning mortality rate significantly (P<0.05) better than those of received untreated water (control group).
It can be concluded that supplementation of Carmecol@ to rabbit drinking water showed a great role in enhancing the immune system, improved growth performance, blood metabolites and reproductive performance due to inclusion of L-carnitine beside presence of Bcomplex vitamins and amino acids. From the economic point I ml Carmecol/l L drinking water twice a week is recommended for both growing and mature (bucks + does) rabbits.
Key words: Rabbit; L-carnitine; Blood; Carcass; Performance, Semen, Fertility.
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| Publication year |
2006
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| Availability location |
معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى - الجيزة
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| Availability number |
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| Organization Name |
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| serial title |
Journal Biological Chemistry Environmental Science
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| Author(s) from ARC |
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| Agris Categories |
Animal physiology - Nutrition
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AGROVOC
TERMS |
Blood composition.
Carcass composition.
Fertility.
Production.
Rabbits.
Reproductive performance.
Semen.
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| Proposed Agrovoc |
L- carnitine;
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| Publication Type |
Journal
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