Propolis effect on growing rabbits as natural health product [electronic resource]

Includes bibliographic reference

The study conducted at Faculty of poultry farm, Assiut University. Eighty weaned rabbits (40 of Newzealand and California rabbit breeds. 20 males and females of each) to evaluate the blood performance and energy value of meat of rabbits drenched different doses of propolis. Rabbits were allocated to one of the treatment groups (control group, 0.2, 0.4 or, 0.6 g drenched propolis /kg body weight) from 42 to 84 days of age. The results indicated that, the differences in body weight, daily gain and fed conversion ratio were not significant among all groups. RBCs and Hb were increased significantly of males treated with 0.2 g of propolis group than females and other groups. No significant differences were observed in Hb, WBCSs and total Protein due to sex. Total leucocytes counts were decreased by using propolis 0.2 treatment of females and males, also, 0.2 group treated California rabbits had the lowest values compared with 0.6 g of Newzealand rabbits. Total protein had the highest values in females and males blood samples treated with 0.4g propolis. The treatment with 0.2g increased total protein values in California but the 0.4g level increased it in Newzealand ones. Energy values (kJ.100 g-1) were higher in females (465.38±3.49 vs. 460.04±2.16 kJ.100 g-1), California exceeded New Zealand ones, were not significant. The 0.6g propolis level was the highest one (473.63±2.23) and significant. Correlation between W.H.C and cooking loss was negative and not significant. Both blood performance and energy value formulas are completely panoramic ways to evaluate Rabbits health.
Keywords: Propolis, Rabbits, Body and blood performance, Energy values.

Summary in Arabic