Effects of different levels of vitamin C intake on some productive traits and blood parameters in rabbits

Abstract

Twelve female rabbits (average body weight 1350-1500 g) used in this investigation to study the effect of different levels of vitamin C on some production traits and blood parameters in Iraqi local rabbits. After the preliminary period, rabbits divided into 4 groups (each 3 animals): Group A drenched only 5 ml distilled water (control), and groups B, C and D were drenched 5 ml contain 100 mg, 200 mg and 300 mg, respectively, of vitamin C daily after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. Supplementation of 200 mg vitamin C significantly increase rabbits live body weight, total weight gain, feed intake, and improving feed conversion ratio comparing with group B and control group after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment with vitamin C. After 4 weeks of vitamin C treatment, results show increasing in average total body weight and feed conversion ratio, with decreasing in average total feed intake and total weight gain comparing with the first two weeks of the experiment for the same groups. Generally, group C show significantly increasing in RBC, WBC, PVC, Hb, and blood platelets comparing with other groups, while, control group show the lower values. In addition, results show increasing in all blood parameters after 4 weeks of treatment in contrast with the first 2 weeks of vitamin C intake. It can be concluded that adding 200 mg or 300 mg of vitamin C could improve production and blood parameters in local Iraqi rabbits.