Effect of dietary Lippia citriodora extract on reproductive and productive performance and plasma biochemical parameters in rabbit does

Abstract

Two doses of natural extract from Lippia citriodora (titrated in verbascoside) were assessed in New Zealand White rabbit does evaluating selected reproductive, productive and plasma biochemical parameters. After 1 week of adaptation period, the trial on 45 rabbit does for three consecutive reproductive cycles was conducted; does were divided into three groups of 15 animals each, homogenous by age (1 year ± 2 weeks), bodyweight (4.77 ± 0.21 kg) and parity (2 ± 1). A control group (CON) did not receive the dietary supplement in the feed and the other two groups received 1 g of natural extract supplement in the feed (5 mg verbascoside/kg feed; LNE) and 2 g of natural extract (10 mg verbascoside/kg feed; HNE). The use of a dietary NE supplement improved kit bodyweight at weaning (934 vs 1104 g; P < 0.001), and average daily weight gain from birth to weaning (24.7 vs 29.7 g/day; P < 0.001), with no NE dose effect. In the LNE and HNE groups serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, bilirubin, and activities of alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase (P < 0.05) and aspartate aminotransferase (P < 0.01) decreased and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.01) increased, according to the cycle effect. The dietary supplement also improved blood oxidative status markers in the experimental groups due to an increase in the concentrations of plasma vitamin A and E (P < 0.01) and a decrease in plasma reactive oxygen metabolites and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the dietary Lippia NE supplement improved selected productive and reproductive parameters and the animal welfare of does, expressed by a general improvement of blood profile, with no effect of the dose.