Dietary Supplementation with Natural Extracts Mixture: Effects on Reproductive Performances, Blood Biochemical and Antioxidant Parameters in Rabbit Does

Abstract

Abstract The present study evaluates the effects of natural extracts on reproductive performance, haematochemical parameters, and antioxidant status of rabbit does. A total of sixty New Zealand White second parity does were divided into three groups: the first group was fed a control diet (CON), the second (T1) and the third groups (T2) were fed the same diet supplemented with prebiotic polysaccharides from brown seaweeds (Laminaria spp.) plus phenolic acid, hydroxycinnamic acids, tannins, and flavonoids from plant extracts (0.3% and 0.6%, respectively). The trial was conducted for two consecutive reproductive cycles (75 days). Reproductive performance was recorded. Blood samples were collected before the first insemination, 10 d after the first kindling, and 10 d after the second one. At the first reproductive cycle, productive parameters were negatively affected (P<0.05) by a high dosage of the dietary supplement (T2 group). At the second reproductive cycle, no differences (P>0.05) between dietary treatments on reproductive and productive performances were observed. Bilirubin was affected by dietary treatment (P<0.001) and decreased in relation to sampling time (P<0.001). The HDL cholesterol decreased by dietary treatment (P<0.01). All the plasma antioxidant markers were positively affected (P<0.001) by dietary supplementation and sampling time. No previous study has reported the effects of brown seaweeds and polyphenols on rabbit does and the present data shows that this natural extract supplement improved the antioxidant status of rabbit does.