Effect of Acacia nilotica leaves extract and flaxseed oil supplementation on milk yield and reproductive performance of rabbit does [electronic resouce].

Includes references.

The present experiment had been carried out to investigate the effect of Acacia nilotica leaves extract (ALE) and flaxseed oil (FO) either separated or combined on milk yield and composition, fatty acids profile in milk and their effects on reproductive performance of lactating V- line rabbit does. A total number of sixty nulliparous rabbit does and twelve bucks were divided randomly for six groups (10 does and 2 bucks each). The experiment continued throughout three consequence parities. The 1st group was served as control without any supplementation, 2nd and 3rd group were supplemented orally with 280 and 560 mg /kg BW of ALE respectively. The 4th, 5th and 6th group were fed a pelleted basal diet enriched with 2% FO, 2% FO+280 mg/kg of ALE and 2% FO+ 560 mg /kg of ALE respectively. All animals were treated daily, starting from the last week of pregnancy up to the end of lactation. The obtained results are summarized as follows: 1- The highest amounts (P<0.0001) of milk yield (g) were observed for rabbits supplemented with high concentration of ALE (560 mg/kg) plus 2% FO during lactation periods ( birth to 21 days) compared with other experimental groups except that for low concentration of ALE (280 mg/kg) plus 2% FO throughout the three consecutive parities . 2- Marked reductions (p<0.0001) of mortality percent during the first 7 days of age were observed for all experimental groups of ALE and FO compared with those for control . Key Words: Acacia nilotica flaxseed oil, rabbit does, milk yield, and performance.

Summary in Arabic.

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