Impact of Dietary Addition of Aloe Vera Leaves Powder on Productive Performance, Caecal Ecosystem and Some Physiological Parameters of Growing Rabbits
Impact of Dietary Addition of Aloe Vera Leaves Powder on Productive Performance, Caecal Ecosystem and Some Physiological Parameters of Growing Rabbits
K. H. El-Kholy1*, Enayat Hassan Abo El-Azayem2, Safaa Ataya Barakat2, Mona Gamel Mohamed3, Sara H. M. Hassab1
ABSTRACT
The inclusion of phytochemicals in rabbit diets is a strategy that has been used to improve animal productivity by protecting against oxidative stress which in turn increasing the production yield. This study hypothesized that using Aloe vera (AV) leaves powder may provide protection against stress and enhance animal physiological responses. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary AV addition on growth traits, caecal ecosystem and some physiological and biochemical responses in growing rabbits. APRI rabbits (age = 6 weeks, n = 60) were split equally into four groups (n = 15 in each group). First group was fed a basal diet only (control group, G1), while the other three groups fed a basal diet along with 0.5 (G2), 1.0 (G3) and 2.0 g (G4) AV leaves powder/kg diet. The results revealed that, AV addition at its highest levels (G3 and G4) significantly (P≤0.05) increased the final body weight, daily weight gain and feed efficiency. The AV inclusion, especially in high dose “G4”, lead to significant (P≤0.05) reduction in bacteria count of E. coli and clostridium spp. and increased total bacterial count in caecal content. The caecal NH3 concentration significantly (P≤0.05) decreased when the dietary AV level increased. Haematological, plasma biochemical and antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx and CAT) were significantly elevated (P≤0.05) by the highest dietary AV inclusion (G4). The addition of AV significantly enhanced immune- responses; lymphocyte percentage, IgG and IgM increased when growing rabbits were fed G4 compared to the control group. In conclusion, dietary addition of 1 or 2g AV may serve as an enhancer of growth and immune response in growing rabbits.
Keywords | Aloe vera, Antioxidants, Blood, Growth, Immunoglobulin, Rabbits.
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