THE COMPLEMENTARY EFFECT BETWEEN GARLIC, CINNAMON AND JUNIPER ESSENTIAL OILS ON PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE, DIGESTIBILITY AND BLOOD PARAMETERS OF NEW-ZEALAND WHITE RABBITS

Abstract

A total of 72 male New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits after weaning were allotted among 4 groups with 3 replications, six rabbits each, using a completely randomized design, for 45 d. The 1st group (control, R1) was fed a basal diet without addition. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0.25 mg of garlic oil (GAR) plus 0.25 mg of cinnamon oil (CIN, R2); 0.25 mg of GAR plus 0.25 mg of juniper oil (JUN,R3) and 0.25 mg of GAR plus the mixture of CIN and JUN at the level of 0.125 mg for each / kg diet v/w (R4), respectively. The results indicated that dietary rabbit’s GAR plus a mixture of CIN and JUN significantly increased the total bacterial count by 44.4% and the cellulolytic bacteria by 70%, respectively, compared to the control group. Dietary rabbit’s GAR plus CIN (R2) and JUN (R3) significantly improved the DM digestibility by 41.7 and 29.1% as well as increased the EE digestibility by 18.7 and 13.9%, respectively compared to the control group. The mixture treatment (R4) significantly increased the final body weight by 11.9%, the total body weight gain by 7.5%, the average daily body weight gain by 51.5% and feed conversion ratio by 17.2% compared to the control group. The mixture treatment (R4) significantly decreased the triglycerides by 54.6%, total cholesterol by 67.5, LDL by 52.5% followed by (R3) treatment by 53, 32.4 and 79.2%, respectively. Same reductions were detected in (R2) treatment by 49.7, 33.2 and 30.9%, respectively compared to the control group. The mixture treatment (R4) significantly increased the carcass weight (with or without edible offals) by 11.9 or by 12.6%, respectively compared to the control group. In conclusion, dietary rabbit’s GAR plus a mixture of CIN and JUN significantly increased caecum microbial count and further improved nutrients digestibility, growth performance, carcass characteristics complemented with decreasing serum lipids profile.