Rabbit productivity and reproductivity as affected by cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
Abstract: This study was performed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with cinnamon powder as growth promoter agents on productive and reproductive capabilities of rabbits. The present study included two experiments, the first one lasted 30 days and was carried out during growing period (from weaning at 30 days to marketing age at 60 days) using 292 growing Black Baladi (BB) rabbits divided into four groups each of 73. The second lasted 4 months and was carried out on 160 multiparous does and 24 sexual mature bucks of BB rabbits aged nine months. The rabbits were divided into four comparable groups (6 bucks and 40 does in two sequence parities in each group). The first group received a control diet, without the additive (control: T1); the second group (T2) was fed 500 g/Ton; the third group (T3) was fed 1000 g/Ton; and the fourth group (T4) received 1500 g/Ton of cinnamon powder in the diet. The results show that the growing BB rabbits fed the cinnamon supplemented diet had significant (P<0.05) increase in final body weight at 60 days of age; daily weight gain; feed intake and feed efficiency values compared to the control group. Cinnamon powder, at its highest levels (T3 and T4), significantly increased final body weight, daily weight gain, feed efficiency and feed conversion (P<0.05). The effect of cinnamon treatment on carcass traits was so clear, where treatment caused significant (P<05) increase in dressing percentage and carcass internal organs weight for growing BB rabbits. Also, the results indicate that cinnamon powder, at its highest levels (T3 and T4), significantly increased carcass weight, dressing percentage, and relative spleen, kidney, liver and heart weights (P<0.05). Cinnamon powder, at its highest levels (1'2 and T3), significantly increased average red blood cells (RBC), hematocrit, albumin, and albumin/globulin ratio levels (P<0.05). The rabbits from the groups receiving cinnamon had lower total lipids, phospholipids, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and total cholesterol compared with those from the control group. Also, the results indicate that cinnamon powder at its highest levels during the whole experimental period (T2 and T3) had its lowest total lipids, phospholipids, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol. Rabbit does treated with cinnamon recorded better kindling rate, litter size and weight at birth,' milk yield and pre-and post-weaning mortality rate (P<0.05) than those untreated does. Therefore, it was concluded that the use of cinnamon powder had a great role in enhancing the growth performance, haematological and blood biochemical variables and reproductive performance. These changes due to addition of cinnamon could be attributed to the presence of cinnamaldehydes which give cinnamon its aroma and bio-antioxidant properties. From the economic point of view 1000 g cinnamon/Ton is recommended/or both growing and mature doe rabbits.
Publication year 2012
Pages 691-703
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى - الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
City الاسكندرية
serial title Egyptian Poultry Science
ISSN 1110-5623
Author(s) from ARC
External authors (outside ARC)
    سعد زغلول الدمراوى جامعة طنطا
Agris Categories Animal physiology - NutritionAnimal physiology - Reproduction
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Blood composition. Carcass composition. Cholesterol. Cinnamon. Litter size. Milk yield. Mortality. Phospholipids. Productivity. Rabbits. Reproductive performance. Triglycerides. Weight.
Proposed Agrovoc growth promoter;
Publication Type Journal
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