Reproductive performance of doe rabbits fed aflatoxicated diet [electronic resource]: effect of clay source and feeding duration.

Includes references.

A total of 60 female Bouscat rabbits at 10-12 months of age with an average body weight 3.48±0.11 kg were divided into three homogeneous groups (n=20). The 1st group was fed on a formulated pelleted diet as a control. The 2nd and 3rd groups were fed on the same diet replaced with 30 and 40% of diet naturally contaminated with 450 ppb aflatoxins (B1+G1, AF-diet), respectively. Each main group was divided into two equal sub groups. The 1st and 2nd sub groups were fed on diet supplemented with 4 g of either tafla or bentonite clay/kg diet, respectively. Doe in each group was naturally mated with proven fertile buck after two weeks from start of treatments and continued for three consecutive parities. Litter size and litter weight at birth and at weaning, litter weight gain, progesterone concentration at mid gestation period and total milk yield from birth to 21 days of lactation were reduced (P<0.001 or 0.01 or 0.05) with increasing AF-diet intake and feeding duration (from 1st till 3rd parities), while number of services per conception, abortion percentage and pre-weaning mortality rate tended to increase significantly. At 21st day of pregnancy through 3rd parity, body weight, ovaries weight, total embryos recovered, and maternal placenta weight decreased (P<0.01 or 0.05) with increasing aflatoxin level in the diet. Moreover, lost fetus through pre-implantation and abnormal fetus percentages tended to increase significantly. Inclusion bentonite clay to the AF-diet reduced the harmful effect of aflatoxicosis and improved markedly reproductive performance, litter traits, milk production and embryo quality compared to tafla supplementation. Genitalia organs were adversely affected by aflatoxins consumed, especially with elevating AF-diet. Does fed 30% AF-diet+bentonite showing normal genitalia appearance than that fed the same diet+tafla. Liver and kidneys of doe rabbits fed 40% AF-diet+tafla showed more deterioration than that fed 30% AF-diet+tafla or 30 and 40% AF-diet+bentonite. Generally, inclusion 4 g bentonite clay/kg diet protect mature doe rabbits fed diet contaminated with 135 ppb aflatoxins without retardation in the reproductive performance for three parities.

Summary in Arabic.

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