EFFECT OF ORAL ADMINISTRATION WITH GRAPE SEEDS EXTRACT ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, CARCASS TRAITS AND BLOOD PARAMETERS OF GROWING RABBITS

Abstract

The current study was conducted to evaluate effect of oral grape seeds extract (GSE) at levels of 0, 75 and 125 mg/kg LBW daily for 21 days on growth performance, carcass traits and blood parameters of growing APRI rabbits. Total of fifteen growing APRI rabbit males having live body weight (LBW) of 618.67g and 8 weeks of age, were divided into three similar groups (n = 5 in each) rabbits in the 1st group were given 3 ml sterile distilled water (Control, G1), while in the 2nd and 3rd groups were given 3 ml distilled water containing 75 (G2) or 125 mg/kg LBW (G3) grape seeds extract. All rabbits were fed commercial complete feed diet and kept under the same managerial and climatic conditions. Results show that, the average final body weight, total weight gain and daily body weight gain of rabbits in G3 were significantly higher (P<0.05) (2180, 1564 and 27.93 g) than in G2 (2013, 1399 and 24.98 g) and control (G1) (1993, 1367 and 24.41g), respectively. Average daily feed intake was significant (P<0.05) higher for rabbit with oral grape seeds extract at 12 mg than for control, but no significant affected between the two levels (G2 and G3). Results showed insignificant effect of oral grape seeds extract on average feed conversion ratio (gm feed/g gain). However, there was a tendency of reduction for rabbit treated with 125 mg/kg (G3) as compared to level 75 mg/kg (G2) and control group (G1). Results showed that oral grape seeds extract were insignificantly affected in all carcass parameters, however, the tendency in carcass characteristics values (weight after slaughter, weight with abdominal, giblets, empty, head, spleen, heart and kidney) higher in rabbits treated with 125mg/kg (G3) followed by treated with 75 mg/kg (G2) then control group (G1). Concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) and AST were significantly higher (P<0.05) for growing rabbit in control group (G1) than both treatments (G2 and G3), while did not significant effect on concentration of total protein, albumin, globulin, A/G ratio, creatinine and activity of ALT enzyme. These findings suggest that oral of grape seeds extract with level of 125 mg/kg lead to improvement growth performance, health status and decreasing lipid contents in the body of APRI rabbits.