Abstract
Simple SummaryUsing Chlorella vulgaris (CLV) as an immunomodulatory agent and antimicrobial activity to promote the immunity system has been reported in some previous studies. Our work investigated the impacts of dietary CLV supplementation on growing rabbit diets in terms of growth performance, carcass traits, hematobiochemical variables, immunity responses, and antioxidant status. Results showed that the CLV supplementation can positively affect the health status aspects of growing rabbit.This work aimed to explore the effects of dietary supplementation of Chlorella vulgaris (CLV) on the growth performance, carcass traits, hematobiochemical variables, immunity responses, and the antioxidant status of growing rabbits. A total number of 100 rabbits were randomly distributed into four treatment groups, each of five replicates (25 rabbits/group). The experimental groups were as follows; control: a basal diet without supplementation, CLV0.5: basal diet + 0.5 g chlorella powder/kg diet; CLV1.0: basal diet + 1.0 g chlorella powder/kg diet, CLV1.5: basal diet + 1.5 g chlorella powder/kg diet. Live body weight (LBW), cumulative body weight gain (CBWG), feed intake (FI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not affected by dietary CLV supplementation. Platelet count (PLT), hematocrit (HCT), means corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) values were significantly increased in the CLV0.5 group compared with the other treatment groups. Dietary supplementation of CLV (1.5 g/kg diet) significantly reduced the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity. The concentrations of serum triglycerides and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) were lower (p < 0.05) in the CLV-treated groups than those of the control. Supplemental CLV at all experimental levels gave the best values of immunoglobulins (IgG and IgM) and glutathione activities. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were lower in the animals that received CLV in their diet than those of the control group. Dietary supplementation of 1.0 g CLV/kg had the potential to enhance immune responses and antioxidant status, as well as reduce blood lipid accumulation. Therefore, it could be concluded that CLV supplementation to growing rabbit diets can improve the health status.
Highlights
IntroductionIn the extensive rabbit production, the time near weaning is the most critical period, when rabbits are extremely sensitive to multifactorial digestive disorders and face a theatrical life amendment in the food source, the immune system, as well as social status and environmental stressors [1,2]
In the extensive rabbit production, the time near weaning is the most critical period, when rabbits are extremely sensitive to multifactorial digestive disorders and face a theatrical life amendment in the food source, the immune system, as well as social status and environmental stressors [1,2].These changes might have a serious economic loss on rabbit meat production
The non-significant impacts of CLV on body weight gain (BWG), cumulative body weight gain (CBWG), Feed intake (FI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) between all treated groups and the control are supported by Kotrbáček et al [8], who found that the addition of 0.5% CLV
Summary
In the extensive rabbit production, the time near weaning is the most critical period, when rabbits are extremely sensitive to multifactorial digestive disorders and face a theatrical life amendment in the food source, the immune system, as well as social status and environmental stressors [1,2]. These changes might have a serious economic loss on rabbit meat production. It is a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), mainly γ-linolenic acid (CLA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and arachidonic acid, which may be beneficial to animal and human health [7,8,9]
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